Thamajoy Reang csc –
Readings: Acts 7: 51 – 60; Jn 6: 39 – 35
The first reading speaks about Stephen, the first martyr in Christian history. Stephen, the true witness of Jesus and of the Holy Spirit, brings us the message of forgiveness through love, which we are to practice every day in our lives.
Stephen experienced accusations, rejections, opposition, torments, and even death, but he never held back his faith in Jesus, for he saw heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of the Father. Today, Stephen, through the first reading, invites us to be true witnesses of Jesus with full conviction of faith, even when we are to face accusations, rejections, and oppositions in our lives, and to possess the heart of forgiveness for those people.
The gospel reading speaks about Jesus, the bread who comes from heaven, and promises eternal quench for all who believe in him. In Jesus, we find bread for the journey of the kingdom of God, and He says that bread is available only for those who desire it. Both the readings of today invite us to participate in the assembly of the believers, where faith is nourished, and love is shared. Let us then long for the heavenly bread of Christ, like Stephen, and share it with those in need.