Monday of the Third Week of Easter and Joseph the Worker
Readings for Monday of the Third Week of Easter
Biographical Information on Joseph the Worker
First Published: Monday, May 01, 2006
Bad Monday for St. Stephen
Reflection:
The Acts of the Apostles speaks of the ministry of St. Stephan, the first Deacon (and first Martyr of the Church). He is doing more than he was ordained to do if you will remember earlier. His initial call was to make sure the widows and orphans of the Greek Christians were getting what they needed. Yet, here he is, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people . It is instructive that the actions he performed on behalf of those widows and orphans should feed his spirit and cause him to appear suddenly, filled with the Spirit, performing signs among the people.
As we have seen in other parts of scripture, we believe that faith without action is empty. We believe that true faith must manifest itself in the world through the actions of a believing community and these actions not only do good things for others but also proclaim our belief in the Father as we are instructed by Christ in Johns Gospel as he tells us: This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.
As we see in St. Stephen deep faith in Christ coupled with the gift of the Holy Spirit is a powerful thing. It cannot be hidden or contained. It must shine forth in various ways and in many cases, the person in whom this Spirit resides and shines out from, does not even realize that suddenly they are a beacon.
Through the years we have known people who struggle to find out what God is asking them to do. And it is always amazing that if we do the simple, inwardly focused building of our own faith that those actions which glorify the Father naturally result.
Just in case a person new to the faith reads these words and thinks; Gosh, thats easy enough. Watch carefully what happens next to St. Stephen. There are people in his story that do not appreciate what he is doing and saying even if it is coming from God. Like our Lord, all but one of the Apostles find that being filled with faith is not a safe road of our earthly bodies. Pax
Readings for Monday of the Third Week of Easter
Biographical Information on Joseph the Worker
First Published: Monday, May 01, 2006
Bad Monday for St. Stephen
Reflection:
The Acts of the Apostles speaks of the ministry of St. Stephan, the first Deacon (and first Martyr of the Church). He is doing more than he was ordained to do if you will remember earlier. His initial call was to make sure the widows and orphans of the Greek Christians were getting what they needed. Yet, here he is, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people . It is instructive that the actions he performed on behalf of those widows and orphans should feed his spirit and cause him to appear suddenly, filled with the Spirit, performing signs among the people.
As we have seen in other parts of scripture, we believe that faith without action is empty. We believe that true faith must manifest itself in the world through the actions of a believing community and these actions not only do good things for others but also proclaim our belief in the Father as we are instructed by Christ in Johns Gospel as he tells us: This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.
As we see in St. Stephen deep faith in Christ coupled with the gift of the Holy Spirit is a powerful thing. It cannot be hidden or contained. It must shine forth in various ways and in many cases, the person in whom this Spirit resides and shines out from, does not even realize that suddenly they are a beacon.
Through the years we have known people who struggle to find out what God is asking them to do. And it is always amazing that if we do the simple, inwardly focused building of our own faith that those actions which glorify the Father naturally result.
Just in case a person new to the faith reads these words and thinks; Gosh, thats easy enough. Watch carefully what happens next to St. Stephen. There are people in his story that do not appreciate what he is doing and saying even if it is coming from God. Like our Lord, all but one of the Apostles find that being filled with faith is not a safe road of our earthly bodies. Pax
posted by Deacon Jim | 3:19 AM
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