I am the bread of life; Whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.

Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life.

Jesus takes this opportunity to upgrade their search beyond mere physical bread that nourishes the body only.

Stephen is stoned to death in the first reading. His witness before his death must have had an impact on Saul.

There was something in Stephen’s courage that must have struck something deep in Saul. 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Acts 7:51-8:1a

“But you are a stubborn people,

You hardened your hearts and

 Saint Stanislaus Born 1550, died April 11, 1079, Kraków.

Canonized 1253; was the patron saint of Poland, and the first Pole to be canonized.

After his parents died, Stanislaus received a huge inheritance, which he immediately gave to the poor.

He was ordained to the priesthood by the Bishop of Krakow, he was ordained a bishop around the age of forty-two.

During that time, King Bolesław manifestly indulge in immoralities, Tensions continued to grow between the bishop and the king.

Ventually, Bolesław himself slew the bishop with his sword.

The legend continues that after Stanislaus’ death, the soldiers were ordered to dismember the bishop’s body

and scatter the pieces on the land to be devoured by wild beasts.

Miraculously, eagles guarded the pieces until the canons of the cathedral were able to gather them and bury them properly.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Acts 5:27-33

So they brought them in and

Jesus replied,, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me

who will never be hungryagain. Whoever believes in me never be thirsty. ” JOHN 6:35

But Jesus uplifts their otherwise superficial understanding of their need.

He invites them to come to know better their deeper hunger for the food of life.

 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊      　

Acts 6:8-15

Stephen, full of grace and power,

 
"Everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

In redeeming the world, He has brought the Kingdom of God - through His death and resurrection.

We are given the chance to be saved only if we really want.

In order to do so, it calls us to be truthful to ourselves, to others and to the Lord.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊      　

Acts 5:17-26

The High Priest and

The two disciples who recognized the Risen One in the breaking of bread. Christ indeed from death is risen,

as he had done on the Emmaus road, the Anointed One of God had to suffer;

that he then had to rise from the dead to a new form of life;

our new life obtaining,And that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,

would be preached in his name to al the nations.

  

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

The God of Abraham,

 

 The truth is, it is hard to maintain "oneness in heart and mind"

unless we are totally open to the "exceptional grace"

　" laying what they possessed “ at the feet of the apostles”

in order that they may live guided only by their faith in Jesus Christ.

 

 1st Reading: Acts 4:32-37

The whole community

After the feeding of the five thousand, They had to learn the lessons from the stormy sea of Galilee.

They have to learn to trust in Jesus through the storms when they are following Jesus in obedience to His will.

Every time Jesus appears, He always dispels our fears, is a sure sign of God’s presence.

They realised that Jesus was with them still; especially in times of struggle or disorientation. 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 6:1-7

In those days,

 The Annunciation of the Lord refers to the time when the angel Gabriel

visited the Blessed Virgin Mary to tell her that she would be the mother of the savior.

"Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

The Virgin is blessed among women because she accepted the ministry of being the mother of God the Son.

Our Lady is the supreme example of obedience to the will of God.

The primary meaning of each day of our lives is to say with her.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10

Once again Yahweh addressed Ahaz,

Though Andrew wasn't sure of how useful the little resources would be,

he did the right thing: he ensured that the boy and Jesus met.

The disciples could only produce a meager five barley loaves and two fishes from a little boy.

A little offering from a little offeror. Yet the Lord multiplied what is otherwise an insignificant amount of food.

For the little we have if heartily offered to the Lord becomes enough for the needs of those in want.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 5:34-42

But one of them,

 

 “My Lord and my God.”

  Thomas : “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

 Jesus said : “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side.

  

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Acts 4:32-35

The whole community