＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Acts 6:1-7

In those days, as the number of disciples grew,

the so-called Hellenists complained against the so-called Hebrews, because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.  So the Twelve summoned the whole body of disciples together and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God to serve at tables.   So, friends, choose from among yourselves seven respected men full of Spirit and wis­dom, that we may appoint them to this task.  As for us, we shall give ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.”

The whole community agreed and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and Holy Spirit; Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenus and Nicolaus of Antioch who was a proselyte.   They presented these men to the apostles who first prayed over them and then laid hands upon them. The Word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly and even many priests accepted the faith.

 

Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19(22)

Lord let your mercy be on us, as we put our trust in you.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

1Peter 2:4-9

He is the living stone rejected by people but chosen by God and precious to him; set yourselves close to him  so that you, too, become living stones built into a spiritual temple, a holy community of priests offering spiritual sacrifices that please God through Jesus Christ.  Scripture says: See, I lay in Zion a chosen and precious cornerstone; whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.

This means honor for you who believed, but for unbelievers also the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone and it is a stone to stum­ble over, a rock which lays people low. They stumble over it in rejecting the Word, but the plan of God is fulfilled in this.

You are a chosen race, a community of priest-kings, a consecrated nation, a people God has made his own to proclaim his wonders. For he called you from your darkness to his own wonderful light.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

John 14: 1-12

 “Do not be troubled; trust in God and trust in me.  In my Father’s house there are many rooms. Otherwise I would not have told you that I go to prepare a place for you.  After I have gone and prepared a place for you, I shall come again and take you to me, so that where I am, you also may be.  Yet you know the way where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going; how can we know the way?”  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.  If you know me, you will know the Father also; indeed you know him and you have seen him.”

Philip asked him,“Lord, show us the Father and that is enough.”  Jesus said to him, “What! I have been with you so long and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever sees me sees the Father; how can you say: ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

All that I say to you, I do not say of my­self. The Father who dwells in me is doing his own work.  Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; at least believe it on the evidence of these works that I do.

Truly, I say to you, the one who believes in me will do the same works that I do; and he will even do greater than these, for I am going to the Father.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Read:

As the Christian community continued to grow, it was inevitable that some problems of organization and administration would arise. And so the qpostles, recognizing the need that the Body of Christ was not just a spiritual communion, but a community of men and women who had everyday needs, appointed seven “servants” or “deacons” to assist in the smooth running of the community. And the gospel reading begins with an amazing exhortation from Jesus:” Do not be troubled.” By appointing the seven men, the early Church was in fact taking into serious account these words of Jesus.

Reflect:

The Church isn’t just a spiritual communion of believers desiring to get to heaven. It is also a community of men and women who seek to live out the Good News amidst the ordinary circumstances of everyday life. Wanting to get to heaven should never mean that we abandon the concerns and needs of this earth. Jesus did not die for a vague and amorphous idea; no, he gave up his life for concrete men and women who had worries, problems, needs, challenges, anxieties, fears, hopes and dreams. We must never think that the spiritual life is an escape from the cares of this world. Jesus never taught that. Rather what he reminded his disciples, again and again, is that for those who put their trust in him and the Father, no worry or care in this life can ever separate them from him and the one who sent him.

Pray:

Lord, remind me that the spiritual life and prayer are not meant to give me an escape from life, but are meant to immerse me in life even more – but with the full knowledge and confidence that I do so with you by my side, leading, guiding and caring for me.

Act:

Has there been something (relationships, work, family, etc.) that I may have been neglecting or I have taken for granted? I need to set aside some time to attend to them; my faithfulness to the Lord demands nothing less.