Trust the past to God's mercy, the present to God's love and the future to God's providence.
- St. Augustine
(What specific intentions come to mind?)
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ACTS 8:26-40; Ps 66:8-9, 16-17, 20
JN 6:44-51
Jesus said to the crowds:
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They shall all be taught by God.
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my Flesh for the life of the world.”
Reflection on the Scriptures |
- reflecting on Acts 8:26-40
This story beautifully illustrates the saying that “opportunity favors a prepared mind”. Philip’s presence nearby and the Holy Spirit’s prompting came at a time when this man was open to Philip’s words. After baptism, he went on his way rejoicing – and I guess that Philip did too!
At this time, we are ordinarily welcoming catechumens and candidates who have been joined to the church at Easter. Perhaps they will identify with this story and share in a sense of wonder, as they share a similar experience of being drawn into a new relationship accompanied by revealed truth. All who are called to a relationship with Christ can share in that wonder. We have sensed that God is
patiently drawing us toward a future and hope that is rooted in His Son Jesus Christ, who is the bread of life we read about in today’s gospel.
Are we prepared to recognize the divine appointments happening all around us? God is calling us to journey with him. Preparation and curiosity are needed, as well as patience and endurance. Let us journey on and be taught by God as we go on our way rejoicing. Thanks be to God.
- by Ed Morse
Revelations of Divine Love
- by Julian of Norwich
Sixteenth Revelation, Chapter 74
There is no dread that fully pleaseth God in us but reverent dread.
Love and Dread are brethren, and they are rooted in us by the Goodness of our Maker, and they shall never be taken from us without end. We have of nature to love and we have of grace to love: and we have of nature to dread and we have of grace to dread. It belongeth to the Lordship and to the Fatherhood to be dreaded, as it belongeth to the Goodness to be loved: and it belongeth to us that are His servants
and His children to dread Him for Lordship and Fatherhood, as it belongeth to us to love Him for Goodness.
And though this reverent-dread and love be not parted asunder, yet they are not both one, but they are two in property and in working, and neither of them may be had without other. Therefore I am sure, he that loveth, he dreadeth, though that he feel it but a little.
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