2ND WEEK OF EASTER
Psalter: Week 2 / (White)
Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
Lord, let your mercy be on us,
as we place our trust in you.
1st Reading: Acts 6:1-7
In those days, as the number of disciples grew, the so-called Hellenists complained against the so called Hebrews, because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve summoned the whole body of disciples together, and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God to serve at tables. So, friends, choose from among yourselves seven respected men, full of Spirit and wisdom, that we may appoint them to this task. As for us, we shall give ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”
The whole community agreed; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit; Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenus and Nicolaus of Antioch, who was a proselyte. They presented these men to the apostles, who first prayed over them, and then laid hands upon them.
The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; and even many priests accepted the faith.
Gospel: Jn 6:16-21
When evening came, the disciples went down to the shore. After a while, they got into a boat to make for Capernaum on the other side of the sea, for it was now dark and Jesus had not yet come to them. But the sea was getting rough because a strong wind was blowing.
They had rowed about three or four miles, when they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and he was drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, but he said to them, “It is I! Don’t be afraid!” They wanted to take him into the boat, but immediately, the boat was at the shore to which they were going.
Reflections
IT IS I, DON’T BE AFRAID.
What a relief the apostles must have felt when, in the midst of turbulence at sea, they heard the reassuring words: “It is I, don’t be afraid.” There are many situations when we experience various forms and degrees of fear. We can just imagine the feeling of the people who just clung to a tree as the winds and sea surged during the Yolanda (Haiyan) typhoon and threatened to wrench them away into their death. We have also fears when our plane is plunging down in a turbulence. We are afraid for loved ones who are on the operating table whether they will come out alive. A lot of people who are in the list of the police as drug addicts or pushers are afraid they will one day be found dead with a cardboard on top of their bodies saying they are drug pushers. In a lesser but no less real fear, we are afraid we will fail in a test or a government exam. We are worried about the result of our medical test — blood, urine, X-ray, whatever. During these times of great fear or anxiety, we need some reassuring voice, a reassuring presence, a comforting gesture to ease our tension or to give us hope. At these moments we should close our eyes and imagine before our eyes the image of Jesus walking on the water, extending his hand to us saying: IT IS I, DON’T BE AFRAID.
Daily Reflection 2018
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
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