HUNGER FOR GOD

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.


Readings
Thought for the Day
Beautiful Saviour Catholic Hymn Book

Lord Jesus help me appreciate the gifts of my fellow being
and give me the spirit of gratitude for my many gifts
from God.  May I hunger for your word.  Fill me with
Your Holy Spirit to guide, guard and direct me.

REPENTANCE RESTITUTION RESTORATION (RRR)

The high priest demanded an explanation of apostles. '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 Savior, 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.' and they had the apostles called in, gave orders for them to be flogged, warned them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them, And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin glad to have had the  honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name Readings
Homily 
How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place from Catholic Hymns

Lord Jesus Christ grant me the joy in time of humiliation for your name,
and may I see it as honor for you love me so much to have permitted it.  

GOOD REPUTATION CRITERIA OF SERVICE IN GOD'S HOUSE

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

SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES MARTYRS

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.

OBEY GOD

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

HAPPY NEW MONTH

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

THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR SOURCE OF EXISTENCE

The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for his own use anything that he had, as everything they owned was held in common.

The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and they were all given great respect.

None of their members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from them, to present it to the apostles; it was then distributed to any members who might be in need.

There was a Levite of Cypriot origin called Joseph whom the apostles sur named Barnabas (which means 'son of encouragement'). He owned a piece of land and he sold it and brought the money, and presented it to the apostles.

Readings

Holy Spirit, breath upon me.  Guide me.