Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Today's Mass Readings

In today’s first reading from Acts, St. Paul goes through salvation history for his audience, showing how Jesus is the culmination of this saving history. The context for this passage is a Jewish synagogue. The synagogue in which St. Paul and his companions find themselves is composed of Jews and Gentiles who have either converted to Judaism or at least follow Judaism to some degree. After being invited to exhort the congregation, St. Paul shows how God has saved His people and how God’s relationship with His people has developed over time. He begins with the exodus and wandering in the wilderness, their conquest of the land of Canaan, up to the kingdom of Israel, first under Saul, and then under king David. Then St. Paul explains how Jesus came from David’s line, and that this Jesus is Israel’s savior, as John the Baptist preached.

St. Paul was bold enough to preach this message of salvation among those who did not believe in Jesus. But he did so by relying upon a history and texts that his audience knew and believed. We too are called to preach the gospel of Jesus to the world, above all in the places we know and among the people we know. In some cases, when asked about our faith, we will be called upon to explain the faith. Most of the time, our very lives are to be a witness to the God Who saves us.

Do people around us know that we are Catholic Christians? Can they tell by the way we live our lives, by our priorities, by how we love one another and others? These are important questions.

Today, let’s think about ways in which our lives show forth God’s grace, and whether or not there are things we can do to help God’s light shine even brighter through us. When we find ourselves in situations where we are called upon to explain the faith, St. Paul’s witness in today’s reading can be especially instructive. It is a good idea to find common ground and move on from there. St. Paul was known for this, both when he preached among Jews and among Gentiles. Above all, let our love and selfless service be a testimony to others of Jesus present in our lives.

As we approach Pentecost, let us recognize how empowered we actually are because of the risen Christ. Just as God empowered the apostles that first Pentecost with the Holy Spirit, so we too are empowered by the Spirit dwelling within us.

- Jeff Morrow