DATE: 6TH MAY 2017 SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTERTIDE FIRST READING: Acts 9:31-42 PSALM: Psalm 116:12-17 GOSPEL: John 6:60-69 THEME: LORD TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?

Observable creative initiatives adopted by some Christian communities to attract people to the Church include free bus services,  free provision of tea and coffee after church services, fully air-conditioned church buildings with well-furnished executive chairs. These initiatives are admirable and may serve as an expression of the Church's ministry of hospitality and care. However, it is fair to say that following Jesus goes beyond drinking tea and coffee and sitting in buses for free. To follow Jesus is tough and sometimes rough.

The sixth chapter of the Gospel of John presents us with an audience who flocked in their numbers to experience the ministry of Jesus because he had provided physical bread and fish (material prosperity). Jesus, taking note of their motive for following him, said, Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life (Jn 6:27). He then added, "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day (Jn 6:53-54).

The crowd felt disappointed with the teaching of Jesus and in today's Gospel we read, After hearing it, many of his followers said, 'This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it. After this, many of his disciples went away and accompanied him no more (Jn 6:60, 66).
   
In search of material blessings, many disciples of Jesus today, preachers and listeners alike, abhor the words of eternal life. In pursuit of material breakthroughs the temptation to turn the Church into a business enterprise and to customised it to suit everyone has become so real.

There is a saying that, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. It takes a person with tough faith to stand resolute and hold firm to the teachings of Jesus in the face of the many forces that seek to water down the Christian faith. Peter stands out as a model disciple. Asked by the Lord whether he too would like to go away, he responded, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life (Jn 6:68).

Complete trust in Jesus is a mark of a true disciple. Even if we do not understand fully the path that He leads us on, we trust that Jesus would lead us home.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I choose to follow you whether there is butter on my bread or not for you have the words of eternal life.

DATE: 5TH MAY 2017 FRIDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER FIRST READING: Acts 9:1-20 PSALM: Psalm 117:1-2 GOSPEL: John 6:52-59 THEME: THE CHOICE OF GOD

A piece of clay appears dirty and useless but in the hands of a potter it turns out to be useful and clean good enough to serve on the dining tables of kings.

When sent by the Lord to go and lay hands on Saul, Ananias said, Lord, I have heard from many people about this man and all the harm he has been doing to your holy people in Jerusalem (Acts 9:13). In response the Lord said, Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel  (Acts 9:15). Later on in life Paul would write,  I am the least of the apostles and am not really fit to be called an apostle, because I had been persecuting the Church of God; but what I am now, I am through the grace of God, and the grace which was given to me has not been wasted. Indeed, I have worked harder than all the others -- not I, but the grace of God which is with me  (1 Cor. 15:9-10).

God often chooses broken people and makes them signposts of hope to other broken people. He picks up flawed men and women and sends them on a mission to a flawed world. Think of it, a good number of the people in Scripture who were chosen by God for service had issues. Abraham was old, Jacob was a cheat, Samson had a lustful heart, David was a murderer, Jeremiah was young, seven demons were cast out of Mary Magdalene, Peter would deny his master three times and the list goes on and on. However, in the hands of God, all these people became useful and have left indelible prints on the pages of salvation history.

Even if in the eyes of everybody you are nobody, always remember that in the eyes of God you are somebody. If you allow the Lord who created the whole world out of nothing to touch you, you would become a vessel of His grace.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I turn to you in my emptiness and nothingness. Repair my brokenness and use me as a vessel of grace. Amen

DATE: 4TH MAY 2017 THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTERTIDE FIRST READING: Acts 8:26-40 PSALM: Psalm 66:8-9, 16-17, 20 GOSPEL: John 6:44-51 THEME: TAKE THE DESERT ROAD

In the fourth stanza of his poem, The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost (1874-1963) writes, I shall be telling this with a sigh; somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I  I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.?

There is a moment in history when God may ask us to take the desert road, if we obey it would make a whole big difference.

Philip was a popular and successful man of God in Samaria. His ministry there was characterised by the proclamation of the Word and a powerful healing and deliverance ministry. Those possessed with unclean spirits were delivered; the paralyzed and crippled were healed (cf. Acts 8:7). In fact Philip is said to have brought so much joy to the city of Samaria (cf. Acts 8:8). His ministry was certainly a thriving one in that city. Then one day the word of God came to him, Get up and take the desert road, the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. No further information was added. He was to make a movement from a secured place of ministry to a desert route of uncertainty. Thanks to the obedience of Philip, an Ethiopian eunuch received salvation. Indeed, Africa owes Philip a word of gratitude for allowing the Spirit to use him to bless the continent.

The logical flow of life would be to move from dry pastures to green pastures and then, with time, seek greener pastures. However, there are moments when God may call a person to move from a comfort zone to a desert zone. The purpose of this move may not be clear at the beginning and one may simply have to step out in faith.  Like Philip, it may be a test of obedience. However, whenever God sends any of his servants to embark on a journey on a desert route, it is because there is a particular mission to be accomplished there. When God calls, he equips. It is only in obedience to the promptings of the Spirit that one would come to know the exact nature and the fruits of the task in question.

In conclusion, we are told that, As they travelled along the road they came to some water (Acts 8:36). Even if the road you are walking on is a desert, God will provide water along the way.

PRAYER: Lord you are my shepherd, I shall not want. You make me to lie down in green pastures. You lead me beside still waters. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me always. Amen

DATE: 3RD MAY 2017 FEAST OF SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES FIRST READING: 1Corinthians 15:1-8 PSALM: Psalm 18:2-5 GOSPEL: John 14:6-14 THEME: THE GOSPEL THAT SAVES

The Gospel is a road map which leads to salvation. However, not every gospel is the Gospel. A bible in one hand and a microphone in the other is no guarantee that the Gospel is being proclaimed.

The Gospel that saves has certain clear characteristics. First of all, it is Christ-centered. Thus in our Gospel text for today, Jesus states emphatically, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (Jn 14:6). Any purported gospel message that does not give Jesus a central place is no good news at all.

Secondly, it uncovers and deals with the reality of sin. Paul writes, For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures (1Co 15:3). Unfortunately, in many churches today, sin is left untouched and instead we spend hours propounding theories on how to get rich.

Thirdly, the Gospel that saves gives birth to and nourishes a community of believers (i.e. the church). One cannot say that he/she believes in Jesus Christ but does not want to be part of the community of believers that that the Gospel has given birth to. The First Reading as well as the Gospel text for the day were all addressed to communities of believers.

Paul expresses deep conviction in the power of the Gospel to save when he writes, Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the gospel that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved... (1Cor 15:1-2).

It was this Gospel that Philip and James, whose feasts we celebrate today, preached. The history of Christianity teaches us that Philip preached the Gospel in Asia Minor and probably suffered martyrdom at Hierapolis in Phrygia. James, often referred to as the Less to distinguish him from James, the son of Zebedee, also preached the Gospel extensively. He was the first bishop of Jerusalem and also suffered martyrdom.

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is real. It sets free and brings salvation. It is God's gift to every human being.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, your words bring life. Deepen my faith in your Gospel and lead me to eternal life. Amen
 

DATE: 2ND MAY 2017 TUESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTERTIDE FIRST READING: Acts 7:51-8:1 PSALM: Psalm 31:3-4, 6-8, 17, 21 GOSPEL: John 6:30-35 THEME: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHRIST

Christianity is not all about singing, dancing and praying, important though these things are. A core value of Christianity is character building. A true disciple is one who follows the master closely and in the process becomes like the master. The call to become Christian is a call to become Christ-like.

In the person of Stephen, we have an example of a Christian with a formidable Christ-like character. He walked in the footsteps of Jesus both in life and death. He is described as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit; he was filled with grace and power and worked miracles and great signs among the people (cf. Acts 5:5,8). He was a man of truth, who dared to speak the truth even in the face of death.

In our First Reading, as Stephen was being stoned to death for upholding the values of the Christian faith, he prayed the very prayer Jesus prayed on the cross: Lord, do not hold this sin against them. It was a prayer of forgiveness. Even in death, Stephen had the character of Christ.

Often, many of us lose our Christ-like character when people start throwing stones at us. The stones may come in the form of betrayal, character assassination, insult, deception etc. In life, we will surely have people abusing us in various ways. In such moments, when stones are hurled at us, we can choose to call down fire on those who abuse us or like Stephen continue to uphold our godly character.

When all is said and done, character is the only thing we take with us into eternity when we die. This is why it is of utmost importance that we never lose the character of Christ in us even in the face of provocation.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I forgive all those who have hurt me in one way or the other. I pardon them all and I plead with you to forgive them. Amen

MEMORIAL OF ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER FIRST READING: Genesis 1:26-2:3 PSALM: Psalm 89:2-4, 12-14, 16 GOSPEL: Matthew 13:54-58 THEME: ST. JOSEPH A MODEL FOR ALL WORKERS

As the world celebrates today International Workers Day (May Day), the Church presents to us St. Joseph, the husband of Mary, as a model and patron of workers. This memorial was established by Pope Pius XII. As we reflect on the life of St. Joseph, we also celebrate all workers and the role that they play in the growth of any economy.

St. Joseph was a simple carpenter, an understanding husband and a responsible foster father. The defining character of St. Joseph was his deep relationship with God. The Scriptures refer to him as a righteous man (Mt. 1:19). His conscious relationship with God had an impact in all the decisions that he made and consequently he bore good fruits in his life.

The call to bear fruits is a universal one. In fact, it is a mandate given to us by God as observed in the first reading: God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth" (Gen 1:28).

There ought to be no dichotomy between our faith and our  socio-economic activities. In fact our jobs thrive best when we allow the values of our faith to inspire our choices and decisions at work. Our ability to bear good fruits is directly proportional to the depth of our relationship with God our creator. The deeper the relationship, the more fruits we are inclined to bear. For example, when one is in a good relationship with God, one would not condone corrupt practices at the work place. A person in a good relationship with God cannot, in conscience, be lazy at work. 

The memorial of St. Joseph the Worker is a reminder for Christian workers to see their jobs as sacred and a call from God to be productive. May we serve the Lord with devotion both in the Church and at our workplaces.

PRAYER: Eternal Father, it is your will that we glorify you by the work that we do. Grant us the grace of diligence and commitment in all that we do, through Christ our Lord. Amen

Nana Amponsah Francis

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER FIRST READING: Acts 2;14, 22-23 PSALM: Psalm 16:1-2, 5,7-11 SECOND READING: 1Peter 1: 17-21 GOSPEL: Luke 24:13-35 THEME: WHEN HOPE IS DASHED

To place one's hope, either partially or totally, in a person or thing is an investment of one's heart. It is a delicate and an expensive investment. When unfolding events do not turn out the way one had expected, the resultant effect is often frustration which may lead to a broken heart.

The Gospel text gives a narration of two men whose hopes had been dashed. The text starts with the statement, That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem (Lk. 24:13). Considering the preceding verses, it is safe to say that the expression them in the above verse is a reference to the group of disciples of Jesus. Thus these two men were no mere spectators of the events that had taken place some few days earlier in Jerusalem with regards to the person and ministry of Jesus. They were stakeholders and had made an investment of their lives We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel (Lk. 24:21).

Secondly, the text says that the two were on their way to Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. Just as disappointed fans would sneak out dejectedly from a stadium and go to their homes upon seeing their team lose, these men apparently were moving away from Jerusalem, the place of action to a Judaen village of uncertain location.

The drawing near of Jesus to these men, culminating in the explanation of the Scriptures and the breaking of bread was to help them appreciate the fact that what they considered a disappointment was actually an appointment of God. It was all foreordained in Scripture. Peter, in his powerful sermon on the day of Pentecost as recounted in the First Reading also laid emphasis on the fulfilment of Scripture with reference to the passion and resurrection of Christ.
  
Like the two disciples, we all have hopes and reasons why we follow Jesus. For some, following Jesus means protection from calamities. Others follow Jesus in the hope that they would be healed of a particular ailment. Some come to Jesus looking for the fruit of the womb or some other form of breakthrough. When these expectations are met, following Jesus is sweet. However, when things do not go our way, we easily slide into a crisis of faith.

The experience of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus shows that all is really not lost when all appears to be lost. The master plan of God is intricate and it unfolds in stages. When we are in Christ, our lives with all its pleasant and unpleasant moments are under the supervision of God. Hence, to give up at one stage of life because of a misfortune is to deprive oneself of seeing the end product of God's masterpiece.

The explanation of Scripture ignited fire in the hearts of the disciples and the breaking of the bread opened their eyes. As we also listen to the Word of God today, may our hearts burn within us and as the Holy Eucharist is offered to us, may our eyes be opened and may we see the resurrected Christ present with us.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I thank you for choosing to walk with me in good times and in bad times. May the strong winds that blow from time to time never quench my faith in you. For the sake of your name, I pray. Amen.   

Nana Amponsah Francis, OP