THE BODY OF CHRIST OUR SPIRITUAL FOOD

MONDAY THIRD WEEK OF EASTER: 

PROMTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

First Reading Acts 6:8-15 Readings 

They could not get the better of Stephen because the Spirit prompted what he said  Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people. But then certain people came forward to debate with Stephen, some from Cyrene and Alexandria who were members of the synagogue called the Synagogue of Freedmen, and others from Cilicia and Asia. They found they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said. Lectures Reflections 

So they procured some men to say, ‘We heard him using blasphemous language against Moses and against God.’ Having in this way turned the people against him as well as the elders and scribes, they took Stephen by surprise, and arrested him and brought him before the Sanhedrin. There they put up false witnesses to say, ‘This man is always making speeches against this Holy Place and the Law. We have heard him say that Jesus the Nazarene is going to destroy this Place and alter the traditions that Moses handed down to us.’ The members of the Sanhedrin all looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared to them like the face of an angel.

Responsorial Psalm: They are happy whose life is blameless

Gospel John 6:22-29 

Do not work for food that cannot last, but for food that endures to eternal life

After Jesus had fed the five thousand, his disciples saw him walking on the water. Next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side saw that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that the disciples had set off by themselves. Other boats, however, had put in from Tiberias, near the place where the bread had been eaten. When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into those boats and crossed to Capernaum to look for Jesus. When they found him on the other side, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’

 Jesus answered:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

you are not looking for me because you have seen the signs

but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat.

Do not work for food that cannot last,

but work for food that endures to eternal life,

the kind of food the Son of Man is offering you,

for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.’

Then they said to him, ‘What must we do if we are to do the works that God wants?’ Jesus gave them this answer, ‘This is working for God: you must believe in the one he has sent.’

Heavenly Father, my God I thank you for your Holy Spirit, my teacher and my inspiration. Spirit of the living God thank you for your gifts. Thank you Lord for I am never alone. Your presence endures, never depart from me. Father as I strive for perfection, may my spirit yearn for your Son Jesus Christ. Open my heart to receive Him, make me work for spiritual food that will endure. Loving Father with your Holy Spirit to guide I shall be blameless. I shall persue righteousness. No evil shall rule over me, I will seek the goodness of all your creatures, and appreciate your gifts to humanity. Deliver me from my enemies God my Father.

Lord Jesus Christ you are the Bread of Life. Come feed me. Blessed be Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Jesus I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. My Guardian Angel pray for me. Guide and guard me. Be my protection. God's Holy Angels pray for me.

Pray the Holy Rosary. Ave Maria. Hail Mary. Hail Holy Queen. May is the month of devotion to our Blessed Mother. May the Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ our Lord bring us to her Son.

Your Birthday Saint: Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor. May he pray  for you as you celebrate your birthday today.