Dear People of God!
May the Lord give you peace and blessings. It is 29th May 2025. We reflect on Acts 18:1–8 and John 16:16–20.
St. Paul VI taught us, “The task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church… Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity.” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 14)
The first reading reveals the tireless labour of St. Paul in the city of Corinth. Though his ministry in Athens met with resistance and disappointment due to the hardness of hearts, the apostle did not surrender to discouragement. With unwavering courage, he continued to proclaim that Jesus is the Christ. He preached in the synagogue on the Sabbath, and throughout the week he sustained his mission through honest labor, working alongside his faithful friends Aquila and Priscilla, fellow tentmakers.
Even in Corinth, where insults and opposition abounded, Paul remained steadfast, proclaiming the Word of God without weariness. His endurance mirrors the call each of us bears—to be persistent in mission, even when the soil seems unfruitful.
The responsorial psalm rightly sings, “The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.”
In the Gospel, we are drawn into the tender moment where Jesus prepares His disciples for His ascension. He forewarns them of His physical absence but offers a mystery cloaked in hope: “In a short time you will no longer see me, and then a short time later you will see me again” (John 16:16). Their sorrow will soon turn into joy, for He promises His presence beyond sight, abiding through faith until the end of time.
Jesus is our only reason to preach, our only joy in proclaiming. The Gospel is not merely spoken—it is lived. The joy of the Gospel shines most brightly in hearts and hands that witness to Christ with love and truth.
May the Risen Lord Jesus bless us with the courage to bear witness to His Gospel with boldness, joy, and unwavering faith.
Have a grace-filled day.