- Admin
- Apr 13, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 20, 2024
April 15 - April 20, 2024
Acts 6:8-15 Stephen, whose feast we celebrate on 26 December, was one of the seven chosen to relieve the pressure on the apostles (Acts 6:5). Today we begin his story, a story of extraordinary witness leading to martyrdom. The Greek for a “witness” is martys, from which our word martyr.
John 6:22-29 The focus throughout John 6 is really on the person of Jesus. This is very evident in today’s Gospel: ‘This is working for God: you must believe in the one he has sent.’
Acts 7:51-8:1 As we listen to the story of Stephen’s death, we might notice echoes of the story of Jesus’ crucifixion peculiar to Luke’s Gospel. This is intentional, because Luke sees Jesus’ death as also that of a prophet-martyr.
John 6:30-35 Appetites, such are hunger and thirst, are often used metaphorically to speak of hungers of the heart. Today, Jesus satisfies our hunger because he is our bread of life.
Acts 8:1-8 Three important characters overlap in today’s narrative: Stephen, Paul and Philip. We will hear much of Paul later; for the moment the story of Philip is taken up. He was also one of the seven chosen in Acts 6:5. Is this the same Philip who was an apostle? This is not so clear, although early tradition affirms it is one and the same person.
John 6:35-40 Our Gospel today is rich in invitation. The words of Pope Francis come to mind: Let the risen Jesus enter your life, welcome him as a friend, with trust: he is life! If up till now you have kept him at a distance, step forward. He will receive you with open arms. If you have been indifferent, take a risk: you won’t be disappointed.
St Laserian (or Molaise), bishop
Acts 8:26-40 Today we hear a memorable anecdote involving an exotic figure, the finance minister of the “Candace” or queen of Ethiopia. There are considerable links with the Emmaus story: the unrecognised “guest”, the explanation of the Scriptures, the sudden disappearance and displacement. Luke wants us to “hear” these stories together.
John 6:44-51 The sermon on the bread of life continues. You may notice references to the incarnation, the cross and the resurrection. In this Gospel — which has no Lord’s Supper — Jesus “gives” his body and blood on the cross.
Acts 9:1-20 The story of Saul / Paul begins today, a story which will occupy the rest of the Acts. The conversion of Paul was a key event for early Christianity, placing at the service of The Way a remarkable person of faith, intelligence and energy.
John 6:52-59 The “giving of my flesh” takes place in this Gospel at the crucifixion. Eating and drinking are metaphors for faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection, celebrated sacramentally in the Eucharist.
Acts 9:31-42 The story we are about to hear has a double resonance. It resembles the story of Jairus’ daughter in Luke 8, which in turn resembles the story of Elijah and the widow’s son in 1 Kings 17. Luke’s message is clear: great prophetic and life-giving actions continue among the followers of The Way.
John 6:60-69 There are several things “going on” in this reading. The departure of some mostly likely refers to a split in the community when some walked away (not unknown today, alas). The close of John 6 is a Johannine version of the scene in Caesarea Philippi—who do you say I am? The wording is very different, but Peter is the spokesman and this affirmation of faith is one of the strongest in this Gospel.
References
-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024ah, April 14). Third Sunday of Easter. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041424.cfm
-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/
