RELIGION AND ART

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 meetings of the disciples and addressed, 'It would not be right for us to neglect the word of Go so as to give food; you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with Spirit  and with wisdom; we shall hand over this duty to them, and continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word. Readings Thoughts of the day

I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through it you are also being save, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed on to you as first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that he appeared to James, then all the Apostles. Last of all, as to one born abnormally he appeared to me. Readings Psalm 19  Feast Sts James and Philip Prayer "Lord Jesus, you fill us with the joy of your saving presence and you give us the hope of everlasting life with the Father in Heaven. Show me the Father that I may know and glorify him more fully." in your Name, I pray. Amen.

When the officials had brought them in to face the Sanhedrin, the high priest demand an explanation.  'We gave you a formal warning' he said 'not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt of this man's death on us.' In reply Peter and the apostles said, 'Obedience to God comes before obedience to men; it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and Saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel.  We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.' This so infuriated them that they wanted to put them to death. Readings Saint Athanasius Song in Honor of Mary

The high priest intervened with all his supporters from the party of the Sadducees. Prompted by jealousy, they arrested the apostles and had them put in the common prison. But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison gates and said as he led them out, 'Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new Life.'  They did as they were told; they went into the Temple at dawn and began to preach. When the high priest arrived, he and his supporters convened the Sanhedrin - this was the full Senate of Israel - and sent them to be brought.  But when the officials arrived at the prison they found they were not inside, so they went back and reported, 'We fond the jail securely locked and the warders on duty at the gates, but when we unlocked the door we found no one inside.' ...... Readings Songs in honor of Mary Saint Joseph