First reading: Acts 6: 1-7
“As the number of disciples continued to grow, the
Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being
neglected in the daily distribution. So
the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, ‘It is not
right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven
reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this
task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to ministry of the
word.’ The proposal was acceptable to
the whole community, so they chose Stephan, a man filled with faith and the
Holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of
Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented
these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the
number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of
priests were becoming obedient to the faith.”
Second reading: 1 Pt. 2: 4-9
“Beloved: Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human
beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones let
yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it says in Scripture: Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a
cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put
to shame. Therefore, its value is
for you who have faith but for those without faith: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and
A stone that will make people stumble,
and a rock that will make them fall.
They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.
“You are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises’ of him who called
you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Gospel reading: Jn. 14: 1-12
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not let your hearts be
troubled. You have faith in God; have
faith also in me. In my Father’s house
there are many dwelling places. If there
were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for
you? And if I go and prepare a place for
you I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also
may be. Where I am going you know the
way.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Master, we do
not know where you are going; how can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way and the
truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me. If you know
me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.’ Philip said to him, ‘Master, show us the
Father, and that will be enough for us.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you for so long a time and you
still do not know me, Philip? Whoever
has seen me has seen 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? The words that I speak to you I do not speak
on my own. The Father who dwells in me
is doing his works. Believe me that I am
in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works
themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones
that these, because I am going to the Father.”
Introductory theme summary:
The common theme for today’s readings relates specifically to
Christ’s spirit. The gospel reading
identifies that spirit as the likeness of God – the Father, with the second
reading helping us to better understand that spirit in greater detail, while the
first reading expresses the need that precipitated the development of our
having different roles of service within that spirit. Reflection:
“I am the way and the truth and the life,” makes specific
reference to the Christian spirit by which all those who “know” Christ live. To guard against any misunderstanding of what
is meant by knowing, this knowledge is not necessary for obtaining
salvation. There is no “knowledge” that
gives anyone salvation (That is the heresy of Gnosticism). Salvation is dependent upon repenting one’s
sins by a faith that is able to believe in the divine nature of Christ. However, not all those who come to faith in
Christ also ‘know’ Christ. John says, “The
way to be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not keep
his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God
is truly perfected in him. This is the
way we may know that we are in union with him: whoever claims to abide in him
ought to live [just] as he lived.” (1 Jn. 2: 3-6) Since people who first come to faith in
Christ have yet to completely conform their lives so as to not sin, it must be
concluded that one comes to faith in Christ without yet knowing him. Consequently, simply meeting the condition of
salvation does not automatically give one the ‘knowledge of Christ,’ though the
Knowledge of Christ is preconditioned by the gift of salvation. Rather, these are two different degrees of
conversion to Christ: one has only begun the journey by discovering salvation,
and the other is destined to participate in the divinity of Christ through the
completion of the journey.
The second reading gives us a good indication of what that
spirit is. Peter tells us, “Let
yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” This is the common priesthood we all share in
Christ. We enter into full participation
in Christ’s priesthood by becoming a living sacrifice, as Paul explains,[1]
and then joining our sufferings to the Lord’s in the Catholic perpetuation of
the Eucharistic sacrifice for the continued cause of the world’s
salvation. We become living sacrifices
by conforming our lives to the Lord’s despite any and all assaults we may
suffer from the world around us. Those
assaults can range from resisting temptations to forbearing direct attacks against
us for living as Christ lived. We have
no sufferings to offer in sacrifice if we do not conform our lives to his. We then offer these sufferings to be joined
with the Lord’s perfect sacrifice on the Cross, through which the priesthood of
Christ extends to the entire world, with us participating with him in it. It is for this reason that we are destined to
participate in his divinity.
Our common priesthood is not to be confused with the
sacramental one, which is reserved to those who are ordained for the ministry
of “serving at the table,” i.e. priests and deacons. The first reading explains quite clearly how
different ministries evolved through the influence of the Holy Spirit, as well
as the distinction of ordination and the chief responsibility of the apostles
and their successors to minister to the word of God that is directed to
safeguarding the full participation of all those who obey the Lord’s commands.
These readings are a perfect exemplification of what is so
wonderful about being Catholic. Do not
let the dissenters from Catholicism persuade you from your place at the
table! Rise up against the world’s
objections for being so and Remain Catholic.
Strive for the great ideal of actually becoming like Christ through his
offering of himself through the Eucharist.
Be obedient to the teachings of the Catholic Church and submit
faithfully to the legitimate authority of the apostolic succession so as to
participate fully in the destiny awaiting all the true and full members of the
Body of Christ.
Come! Let us show the
world what it really means to be Catholic!!!
[1] Rom.
12: 1-2 “I urge you therefore, brothers,
by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing
to God, you spiritual worship. Do not
conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and
perfect.”
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