I used to love this proverb, ‘Speech is silver, silence is golden.’ Yes this helped me on many occasions when used together with ‘choose your battles.’ However if I am truly a disciple of Christ, can I keep silent when souls are at stake? Even though I know that by speaking up, I would most certainly be ‘stoned’!
Can I keep silent…….? When my teenage son or daughter brings someone they are sexually attracted to, home with them to stay over behind closed doors? When someone I know is contemplating abortion? When someone close to me is committing adultery with another? When my children refuses to go to the church?
Let me choose to look heavenward Lord Jesus to see Your glory! As I obey Your Holy Will to speak Your truth through the power of the Holy Spirit. And if I am thereafter scorned, mocked or put to death literally or otherwise. Lord Jesus into Your hands I commend my Spirit. For I know You will raise me up on the last day! Amen Alleluia!
First reading
Acts 7:51-8:1 ·
‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’
Stephen said to the people, the elders and the scribes: ‘You stubborn people, with your pagan hearts and pagan ears. You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Can you name a single prophet your ancestors never persecuted? In the past they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, and now you have become his betrayers, his murderers. You who had the Law brought to you by angels are the very ones who have not kept it.’
They were infuriated when they heard this, and ground their teeth at him.
But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ‘I can see heaven thrown open’ he said ‘and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this all the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they all rushed at him, sent him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses put down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul. As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and said aloud, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’; and with these words he fell asleep. Saul entirely approved of the killing.
Gospel
John 6:30-35
It is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven
The people said to Jesus, ‘What sign will you give to show us that we should believe in you? What work will you do? Our fathers had manna to eat in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’
Jesus answered:
‘I tell you most solemnly,
it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven,
it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven,
the true bread;
for the bread of God
is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.’
‘Sir,’ they said ‘give us that bread always.’ Jesus answered:
‘I am the bread of life.
He who comes to me will never be hungry;
he who believes in me will never thirst.’
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