May the Risen Lord fill you with His peace and blessings.
It is 13th April 2024.
We reflect on Acts 6:1-7 and John 6:16-21.
Is our life a challenge or a chance?
In life there are challenges and difficulties. Difficult-free life is almost impossible to cognize where there are many people gather and worship. More the number pose more the resources and challenges in ordinary functioning of day today life.
As the young church started to spread so rapidly far and wide, the believers from all walks and background of lives were filling in number.
The first reading presents us with a situation where the converts from Palestine and Jews; the Hebrews and the Hellenists.
One is wealthier than the other. One group looked down on the other. They had a dispute over sharing the financial resources to the poor and widows. One group favoured the poor and widow of their own group and neglected the other.
To solve the dispute, the Church interceded for the intervention and the way forward in settling the matter by choosing seven men by laying hands on them and instituted the diaconate to serve.
They distinguished the work of the Apostle to spread the gospel not the social work.
The church ended up choosing the very people the Hellenists as the deacons, who placed the complaint against the others.
For a healthy and productive institution, policy and procedures are very much important along with the grace of God to pull all people toward one goal.
Without prayer and the grace of God with the help of the Holy Spirit, policies and procedures will remain in paper not in action.
The responsorial Psalm acclaims, “May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.” (Ps.32:22).
In the Gospel, Jesus assures the Church not to fear when the storm and the clouds thicken and threaten our work.
Jesus demonstrates the power over nature and all its display to assure that the Lord overcomes every difficulty in our lives.
Jesus will not leave us to solve and suffer alone the threats of lives.
“It is I. Do not be afraid.” (Jn.6:20).
No challenging situation of a strong wind and a rough sea could harm us or topple our boat when Jesus is with us.
When we have faith in Jesus, one who dispels all kinds of darkness, fear, and tiredness, we can still row the boat and reach the desired destination.
Every challenging situation in our lives and in our church could be tackled by the faith we display in our charitable actions.
Mere prudence, intelligence, and administrative skills are not enough to solve the challenging situations in our lives, we need faith in Jesus to allow God to run the situation.
God is with us through all the struggles of lives in His Only Beloved Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist. With the power of the Word of God and the Eucharist we can deal with any struggle whatsoever we need to face.
May you have a good day.