Christ has risen, he who created all things,
and has granted his mercy to men.
ACTS 6:1-7
My Soul's Beloved,
All too often, because the laity are less than generous in offering their services to the Church, priests are found to be busy with work that takes them away from the real task for which they were ordained - that of prayer, preaching, teaching, and administering the Sacraments. Many tasks within our parishes can be very well executed by the lay faithful; sadly, the excuses that are made are like the ones made by those who were invited to the banquet. All believed they had legitimate excuses, but that is not how God viewed it.
Priests are called by God, and are consecrated and anointed by You by the laying on of hands by the bishop. Priests lay hands on those willing to serve the parish so that they, too, may do what is required of them in a spirit of filial love for the members of the parish.
Let us pray that those who answer this call of the Holy Spirit to serve may do so for the right reasons. Not like the Pharisees to be seen and to be admired and praised, but humbly, with the attitude of a servant. A loving and generous heart offered in service of Your people, O Lord, You will bless greatly in this life and even more abundantly in the life to come.
About this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews: in the daily distribution their own widows were being overlooked. So the Twelve called a full meeting of the disciples and addressed them, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food; you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom; we will hand over this duty to them, and continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.’ The whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
The word of the Lord continued to spread: the number of disciples in Jerusalem was greatly increased, and a large group of priests made their submission to the faith.
PSALM 32(33):1-2,4-5,18-19
May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.
Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;
for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.
Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp,
with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs.
For the word of the Lord is faithful
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
and fills the earth with his love.
The Lord looks on those who revere him,
on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine.
About this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews: in the daily distribution their own widows were being overlooked. So the Twelve called a full meeting of the disciples and addressed them, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food; you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom; we will hand over this duty to them, and continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.’ The whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
The word of the Lord continued to spread: the number of disciples in Jerusalem was greatly increased, and a large group of priests made their submission to the faith.
PSALM 32(33):1-2,4-5,18-19
May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.
Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;
for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.
Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp,
with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs.
For the word of the Lord is faithful
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
and fills the earth with his love.
The Lord looks on those who revere him,
on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine.
May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.
JOHN 6:16-21
They saw Jesus walking on the lake
JOHN 6:16-21
They saw Jesus walking on the lake
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