PRAYER: “BR PRESENT TO YOUR FAMILY, O LORD, WE PRAY, AND GRACIOUSLY ENSURE THOSE YOU HAVE ENDOWED WITH THE GRACE OF FAITH AN ETERNAL SHARE IN THE RESURRECTION OF YOUR ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Acts 8:1b-8; Ps 65:1-7; and Jn 6:35-40.
Persecution is never the last word of the Church. Right from the very beginning of the Church, she has been persecuted day in and day out, even up to our time. In our contemporary era, the persecutions may not be physical like it was at the time of the apostles and early Christians, but could take a different form. moon It could be in the form of fake news on social media like what is going on of late about the sudden collapse of Pope Leo XIV in the Church. Such and similar are some of the calculated and deliberate attacks on the Catholic Church. But do not be shaken. Stay firm and be awake. The portion from the Acts of the Apostles (8:1b-8) we reflect on today confirms severe persecutions of the Church in Jerusalem that broke out after the death of Stephen.
While Saul was “trying to destroy the Church”, Philip, one of the deacons, ‘full of the Spirit and wisdom’, went down to Samaria and preached Christ to the Samarians. His missionary work caused ‘great joy in the city’. In the portion of John (6:35-40), Jesus assures his listeners that “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger and whoever believes in me will never thirst”. “Everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day”. Yes, sometimes in our misfortunes and discomforts or persecutions, it is like we are in our ‘last days’ in this earthly life. However, if we believe and trust in the Lord and come to him, he certainly will raise and lift us for many more days. We only need to raise our hands in moments of persecution, and he will lift us.
The saying that “Every (or some) misfortune is a blessing” comes from the passage of Acts. Persecution pushed the Christians beyond Jerusalem and into Judea and Samaria. This more or less fulfilled Jesus’ command in Acts 1:8 that “but you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit which will come on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judea and Samaria, and indeed to earth’s remotest end”. The persecutions meted out to the Christians helped spread the Good News and God through that brought great results from the believers’/Christians’ suffering. This, indeed, was a blessing in disguise.
Sometimes our unfortunate situations, misfortunes and hardships could open new opportunities for us. That is why we often hear expressions like:
(a) “When one door closes, God opens a better door for us”.
(b) “Make your stumbling blocks your stepping stones or your starters”.
(c) “One’s disappointments shall become one’s appointments”.
Indeed, sometimes our discomforts, disappointments and misfortunes may be best for us because God may be working through our hurts. We could also be comfortable and have a positive attitude toward our misfortunes and discomforts if we appreciate them as our crosses we must carry daily to follow Jesus. In that sense, the Lord, who gives everlasting satisfaction and quenches all our thirst, will always provide sufficient strength, energy and grace to carry our crosses as well as show us the way to go.
We pray that whenever persecutions, misfortunes and discomforts that have hit us down as individuals or as a Church, the Lord may raise us and renew us with his strength, his Spirit and his wisdom to continue. We also pray that when we face misfortunes in our lives, instead of complaining let us pause and ask God if he is preparing a special task and fortune for us. Our blessings and fortunes may be far from us when we encounter misfortunes. May you learn to cast your burdens onto the Lord, for he cares for you. Have a fruitful day and stay blessed.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, WEDNESDAY, ON THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: ‘THE RESURRECTION, THE ASCENSION, THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ASSUMPTION, AND THE CORONATION’. (WE PRAY FOR FAITH, HOPE, LOVE OF GOD, GRACE OF A HAPPY DEATH AND TRUST IN MARY’S INTERCESSION) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “HEAR, O LORD, OUR PRAYERS, THAT THIS MOST HOLY EXCHANGE, BY WHICH YOU HAVE REDEEMED US, MAY BRING YOUR HELP IN THIS PRESENT LIFE AND ENSURE FOR US ETERNAL GLADNESS. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com
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