May the Risen Lord grant you grace and peace. It is 27th April 2023. We reflect on Acts 8:26-40 and John 6:44-51.
“The Eucharist is the “light and life of the new millennium”. “Light”, because the presence of Christ; “life”, because in the Eucharist Jesus gave us himself, the Bread of life.” – St. John Paul II
Who is pulling or drawing you closer towards God in your life?
Being pulled by God is an experience given all who are open to listen and learn from the Word of God.
Thos who are pulled by God have the courage to spread the kerygma, and explain the meaning of the Scriptures in light of the mystery of Jesus Christ.
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” (Is.52:7).
God leads our feet to meet the beats of hungry hearts. However wealthy and contented one might be as in the first reading still one can be poor in comprehending the Word of God. Without being drawn by the Holy Spirit, it is hard to explain the deeper level of knowing, loving and believing God through Jesus.
“And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Rom.10:15). Only when we are running in parallel to the pace of the traveller who is in search of experiencing the Light and the Lord, we cannot share our personal faith in Jesus.
St. Philip led the heart of the Ethiopian minister to God and he in turn took the Good News to the community. We are all reading the Word of God without understanding the inner meaning in reference to Jesus. Our personal conversion happens when we are in conversation with the Holy Spirit in the light of the Word of God. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts.2:38).
In the words of His Holiness, Pope Francis, “In carrying out his mission, Philip encountered a person with inability to understand and accept the word of God. The Ethiopian was thirsting for God; he not only came to understand the word through Philip’s ministry, but also asked him for baptism, received it, and “went on his way rejoicing” as a Christian (Acts 8:39).
The Gospel teaches us that without deep communication with the Holy spirit, we cannot be drawn closer to the Father that leads us to the Way of Jesus. God attracts us to believe in His Only Son Jesus. To know and love God, belief in Jesus is inevitable. With this belief, we can enter and experience the Eternal life. “And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (Jn.17:3).
God thinks of everyone for the banquet of love. To participate and partake in this banquet of love, one needs to identify, to relate, and to become the person of Jesus. It is the Eucharist that offers the experience of encountering the entire person in flesh and blood. A free gift and invitation to experience the divine in human form. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” (Jn.6:50). We who have tasted the Bread of life cannot remain idle without evangelizing. May we do the work that is entrusted to us by God. May you have a good day. God bless you.