First Reading: (Acts 5:17–26)
Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 34)
Response: The lowly one called, and the Lord heard him.
Gospel: (John 3:16–21)
Reflection:
From the first readings, the apostles went about preaching the Gospel, they experienced both growth and resistance. Many believed, were baptized, and joined the community. The Church was expanding day by day. Yet, their mission was not without suffering. They were arrested, persecuted, and imprisoned.
This reveals a fundamental truth about the Christian life: serving Christ brings both blessings and trials.
Scripture reminds us in Ecclesiasticus 2:1:
“If you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal.”
This ordeal includes testing, temptation, hardship, and even persecution. Many Christians become discouraged when suffering comes, as if faith should exempt them from pain. But what did we expect? Christ Himself was rejected, mocked, and crucified.
He tells us clearly in (Matthew 10:38)
“Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
The cross, then, is not optional. It is the reality of discipleship. It includes the struggles, sacrifices, and contradictions we endure for the sake of Christ.
But Christianity is not a message of despair. It is not all Good Friday, and it is not all Easter Sunday, it is both. The suffering we endure is always accompanied by grace, and it is always ordered toward resurrection.
In today’s first reading, the apostles are imprisoned for preaching the truth. Yet, God intervenes. An angel opens the prison doors and sets them free. And what do they do? They do not run away. They return immediately to the temple and continue preaching.
This is courage. This is faith. This is conviction.
They understood something profound:
Difficulties for Christ may batter us, but they will never shatter us.
Saint Paul echoes this truth in 2 Corinthians 4:8–9:
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned: struck down, but not destroyed"
God bless you.
No comments:
Post a Comment