One Walk

Dear Lord God, What is it that You want me to know; as You show (I see and notice Your hand in my life as things unfold or immediately after things happen I recognize Your will) and teach (In seeing and noticing, I then meditate on Your will for me and how I am to use this to fulfill Your purpose for me) me that You are walking with me, I look to Your Holy Spirit for guidance, knowledge and wisdom – that which will help me understand Your will, Your purpose. Therefore You know what I have been listening to (Gnostic Gospels, Lost Books of the Bible) and thinking about these things. So today’s readings and Bible Study must have significance in that through Steven’s brief preaching’s and martyrdom You want me to learn and understand more about the early Church and it’s Fathers’; about You and me as a human being, prone to interpret and understand that which is easiest or safest, quick to judge and react with anger and even hate to that which threatens our thinking and beliefs. Today’s video reflection puts it quit clearly in that it is horrifying if not at least troublesome to see how those early believers, people of faith would shed innocent blood over beliefs that they did not or could not understand and accept. O Lord God, why is it, how is it that so many have shed blood in Your name, what are You trying to teach me, show me now. Dear Lord God I wait on You, knowing that the answers lie within me, but are of You, not me. The truths about loving, knowing and serving and faith, hope and love; the reality that You are the One True God, but You are worshiped differently, Jesus is Your Holy Son and the way and the light, but the way is different for each of us and the that which is in the light is His and His alone to judge, the Holy Spirit is of You Lord God and is Given to us through Jesus Christ, but speaks to each of us according to Your will and purpose putting us in places and situations in which we must be willing to stand for what we believe, no matter what.  Is this the meaning of St. Pio’s statement; is it that Your greatest mercy is not to let us have peace with each other, until we each can be at peace with You. That peace which will come only through faith, hope and love, the love that makes us want to know You more and serve You better. O Lord God teach me Your ways, give me a discerning hear and eye so that I may righteously seek Your will and serve Your purpose. In Jesus’ name I ask and pray, and wait upon You. Amen

The greatest mercy of God is not to let those nations remain in peace with each other who are not at peace with God.

— Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Acts 7:51—8:1a

51 "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors.

52 Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.

53 You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it."

54 When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him.

55 But he, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 3

56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

57 But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.

58 They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

60 Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them"; and when he said this, he fell asleep.

  1 Now Saul was consenting to his execution.On that day, there broke out a severe persecution ¹ of the church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Bible Study: [2-53] Stephen’s speech represents Luke’s description of Christianity’s break from its Jewish matrix. Two motifs become prominent in the speech: (Acts 7:1) Israel’s reaction to God’s chosen leaders in the past reveals that the people have consistently rejected them; and (Acts 7:2) Israel has misunderstood God’s choice of the Jerusalem temple as the place where he is to be worshiped. [55] He . . . saw . . . Jesus standing at the right hand of God: Stephen affirms to the Sanhedrin that the prophecy Jesus made before them has been fulfilled (Mark 14:62).

[1] All were scattered . . . except the apostles: this observation leads some modern scholars to conclude that the persecution was limited to the Hellenist Christians and that the Hebrew Christians were not molested, perhaps because their attitude toward the law and temple was still more in line with that of their fellow Jews (see the charge leveled against the Hellenist Stephen in Acts 6, 13-14). Whatever the facts, it appears that the Twelve took no public stand regarding Stephen’s position, choosing, instead, to await the development of events.

Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab

  3 Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to save me.

  4 You are my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead and guide me.

  6 Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, faithful God.

  7 I trust in the LORD.

  8 I will rejoice and be glad in your love,

17 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your kindness.

18 Do not let me be put to shame, for I have called to you, LORD. Put the wicked to shame; reduce them to silence in Sheol.

19 Strike dumb their lying lips, proud lips that attack the just in contempt and scorn.

20 How great is your goodness, Lord, stored up for those who fear you. You display it for those who trust you, in the sight of all the people.

21 You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from scheming enemies.

Bible Study: [Psalm 31] Of David. A lament (Psalm 31:2-19) with a strong emphasis on trust (Psalm 31:4, 6, 15-16), ending with an anticipatory thanksgiving (Psalm 31:20-24). As is usual in laments, the affliction is couched in general terms. The psalmist feels overwhelmed by evil people but trusts in the "faithful God" (Psalm 31:6).

Jn 6:30-35

30 So they said to him, "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do?

31 Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’"

32 So Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

34 So they said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."

35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.

Bible Study: [31] Bread from heaven: cf Exodus 16:4, 15, 32-34 and the notes there; Psalm 78:24. The manna, thought to have been hidden by Jeremiah (2 Macc 2:5-8), was expected to reappear miraculously at Passover, in the last days. [35-59] Up to John 6:50 "bread of life" is a figure for God’s revelation in Jesus; in John 6:51-58, the eucharistic theme comes to the fore. There may thus be a break between John 6:50-51.

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Dear Lord God, I hear Your message, yet I struggle under the sun; one cannot serve two masters; do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life; and this is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent. I can see Your truth, yet I know I cannot live it under the sun without Your help through a greater understanding of the knowledge and wisdom that is received through Your daily bread of life which springs forth a greater faith, hope and love of the journey under the sun and all the roads, turns, hills, valleys and spirits You place in my path. The journey, not the destination; for You have made know to me the destination, it is the journey which is unknown to me and how I will travel it. O Lord Jesus I know there is much to learn, but I feel You have given what I need to know. Help me practice; practice Your presence at every turn, up every hill, in every valley for without You I can do nothing. Have mercy on me and all those I love and seek to serve in Your name. Show me how to use what Your have taught me, help me to let there be more of You and less of me in order to be like You all that we need. In Your Sacred Holy name I ask this Jesus, Amen.

If our life were not under Mary’s protection, we might tremble for our perseverance and salvation.

— St. Peter Julian Eymard

Acts 6:8-15

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyre’nians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cili’cia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 11 Then they secretly instigated men, who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us." 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Bible Study: [6:8-8:1] The summary (Acts 6:7) on the progress of the Jerusalem community, illustrated by the conversion of the priests, is followed by a lengthy narrative regarding Stephen. Stephen’s defense is not a response to the charges made against him but takes the form of a discourse that reviews the fortunes of God’s word to Israel and leads to a prophetic declaration: a plea for the hearing of that word as announced by Christ and now possessed by the Christian community. The charges that Stephen depreciated the importance of the temple and the Mosaic law and elevated Jesus to a stature above Moses (Acts 6:13-14) were in fact true. Before the Sanhedrin, no defense against them was possible. With Stephen, who thus perceived the fuller implications of the teachings of Jesus, the differences between Judaism and Christianity began to appear. Luke’s account of Stephen’s martyrdom and its aftermath shows how the major impetus behind the Christian movement passed from Jerusalem, where the temple and law prevailed, to Antioch in Syria, where these influences were less pressing.

Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30

23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, thy servant will meditate on thy statutes. 24 Thy testimonies are my delight, they are my counselors. 26 When I told of my ways, thou didst answer me; teach me thy statutes! 27 Make me understand the way of thy precepts, and I will meditate on thy wondrous works. 29 Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me thy law! 30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness, I set thy ordinances before me.

Bible Study: [Psalm 119] This psalm, the longest by far in the psalter, praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by. The author glorifies and thanks God for the Torah, prays for protection from sinners enraged by others’ fidelity to the law, laments the cost of obedience, delights in the law’s consolations, begs for wisdom to understand the precepts, and asks for the rewards of keeping them. Several expected elements do not appear in the psalm: Mount Sinai with its story of God’s revelation and gift to Israel of instruction and commandments, the temple and other institutions related to revelation and laws (frequent in other psalms). The psalm is fascinated with God’s word directing and guiding human life.

John 6:22-29

22 On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 However, boats from Tiber’i-as came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper’na-um, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

Bible Study: [22-71] Discourse on the bread of life; replacement of the manna. John 6:22-34 serve as an introduction, [27] The food that endures for eternal life: cf John 4:14, on water "springing up to eternal life."

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Dear Lord God, in today’s Gospel Jesus heals Peter and sets him up above the other disciples to lead the creation of His Church… "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This He said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) Today’s readings are filled with so much to meditate on, as I once again realize the fact that we are Spiritual beings in the physical form of our bodies while under the sun. And the You Lord God our source of source for all we really need, and Your source is made available to us through Jesus Christ who provides an example under the sun of how we are to let You be our source of all, all we do and all we seek to do. These bodies, which serve as temples for our spirits while are under the sun must be disciplined and under the sun is where and how we must learn to develop that discipline of our spiritual beings in preparation for eternity with You Lord God, for only in Him will we find the secrets to being spiritual beings. We must always watchful for His appearance for like the disciples we may not at first recognize Him, we must always be ready to open the door when He knocks.  O Lord God continue the work You have begun in me, help me to break free of these physical wants and desires under the sun; the ambition, the pride, the need to be right, the selfishness, that lack of control that expresses itself in anger and unforgiveness. And lead me into that spiritual existence which shows itself as the fruit of the spirit; love, kindness, gentleness, forgiveness and selflessness. I ask this in the name of my teacher, my master, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen

So blind are we in this mortal life, and so unaware of what will happen, so uncertain of even how we will think tomorrow, that God could not take vengeance on a man more easily in this world than by granting his own foolish wishes.

— St. Thomas Moore

Acts 5:27-32, 40-41

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us." 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." 40 So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

Bible Study: [17-42] A second action against the community is taken by the Sanhedrin in the arrest and trial of the Twelve; cf Acts 4:1-3. The motive is the jealousy of the religious authorities over the popularity of the apostles (Acts 5:17) who are now charged with the defiance of the Sanhedrin’s previous order to them to abandon their prophetic role (Acts 5:28; cf Acts 4:18). In this crisis the apostles are favored by a miraculous release from prison (Acts 5:18-24). (For similar incidents involving Peter and Paul, see Acts 12:6-11; 16:25-29.) The real significance of such an event, however, would be manifest only to people of faith, not to unbelievers; since the Sanhedrin already judged the Twelve to be inauthentic prophets, it could disregard reports of their miracles. When the Twelve immediately resumed public teaching, the Sanhedrin determined to invoke upon them the penalty of death (Acts 5:33) prescribed in Deut 13:6-10. Gamaliel’s advice against this course finally prevailed, but it did not save the Twelve from the punishment of scourging (Acts 5:40) in a last endeavor to shake their conviction of their prophetic mission. [34] Gamaliel: in Acts 22:3, Paul identifies himself as a disciple of this Rabbi Gamaliel I who flourished in Jerusalem between A.D. 25 and 50. [36-37] Gamaliel offers examples of unsuccessful contemporary movements to argue that if God is not the origin of this movement preached by the apostles it will perish by itself. The movement initiated by Theudas actually occurred when C. Cuspius Fadus was governor, A.D. 44-46. Luke’s placing of Judas the Galilean after Theudas and at the time of the census (see the note on Luke 2:1-2) is an indication of the vagueness of his knowledge of these events.

Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13

2 O LORD my God, I cried to thee for help, and thou hast healed me. 4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. 5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. 6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved." 11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, 12 that my soul may praise thee and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to thee for ever.

Bible Study: [Psalm 30] Of David, An individual thanksgiving in four parts: praise and thanks for deliverance and restoration (Psalm 30:2-4); an invitation to others to join in (Psalm 30:5-6); a flashback to the time before deliverance (Psalm 30:7-11); a return to praise and thanks (Psalm 30:12). Two sets of images recur: 1) going down, death, silence; 2) coming up, life, praising. God has delivered the psalmist from one state to the other. [4] Sheol … pit: the shadowy underworld residence of the spirits of the dead, here a metaphor for near death. [7] Complacent: untroubled existence is often seen as a source of temptation to forget God. Cf Deut 8:10-18; Hosea 13:6; Proverb 30:9. [10] in the stillness of Sheol no one gives you praise; let me live and be among your worshipers. Cf Psalm 6:6; 88:11-13; 115:17; Isaiah 38:18.

Revelation 5:11-14

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, "To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!" 14 And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Bible Study: [1-14] The seer now describes a papyrus roll in God’s right hand (Rev 5:1) with seven seals indicating the importance of the message. A mighty angel asks who is worthy to open the scroll, i.e., who can accomplish God’s salvific plan (Rev 5:2). There is despair at first when no one in creation can do it (Rev 5:3-4). But the seer is comforted by an elder who tells him that Christ, called the lion of the tribe of Judah, has won the right to open it (Rev 5:5). Christ then appears as a Lamb, coming to receive the scroll from God (Rev 5:6-7), for which he is acclaimed as at a coronation (Rev 5:8-10). This is followed by a doxology of the angels (Rev 5:11-12) and then finally by the heavenly church united with all of creation (Rev 5:13-14). [1] A scroll: a papyrus roll possibly containing a list of afflictions for sinners (cf Ezekiel 2:9-10) or God’s plan for the world. Sealed with seven seals: it is totally hidden from all but God. Only the Lamb (Rev 5:7-9) has the right to carry out the divine plan. [5] The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David: these are the messianic titles applied to Christ to symbolize his victory; cf Rev 22:16; Genesis 49:9; Isaiah 11:1, 10; Matthew 1:1. [6] Christ is the Paschal Lamb without blemish, whose blood saved the new Israel from sin and death; cf Exodus 12; Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29, 36; Acts 8:32; 1 Peter 1:18-19. This is the main title for Christ in Rev, used twenty-eight times. Seven horns and seven eyes: Christ has the fullness (see the note on Rev 1:4) of power (horns) and knowledge (eyes); cf Zechariah 4:7. [Seven] spirits: as in Rev 1:4; 3:1; 4:5. [11] Countless: literally, "100,000,000 plus 1,000,000," used by the author to express infinity.

John 21:1-19

1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe’ri-as; and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan’a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb’edee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." 6 He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." 19 (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me."

Bible Study: [1-23 There are many non-Johannine peculiarities in this chapter, some suggesting Lucan Greek style; yet this passage is closer to John than John 7:53-8:11. There are many Johannine features as well. Its closest parallels in the synoptic gospels are found in Luke 5:1-11 and Matthew 14:28-31. Perhaps the tradition was ultimately derived from John but preserved by some disciple other than the writer of the rest of the gospel. The appearances narrated seem to be independent of those in John 20. Even if a later addition, the chapter was added before publication of the gospel, for it appears in all manuscripts. [2] Zebedee’s sons: the only reference to James and John in this gospel (but see the note on John 1:37). Perhaps the phrase was originally a gloss to identify, among the five, the two others of his disciples. The anonymity of the latter phrase is more Johannine (John 1:35). The total of seven may suggest the community of the disciples in its fullness. [3-6] This may be a variant of Luke’s account of the catch of fish; see the note on Luke 5:1-11. [9,12-13] It is strange that Jesus already has fish since none have yet been brought ashore. This meal may have had eucharistic significance for early Christians since John 21:13 recalls John 6:11 which uses the vocabulary of Jesus’ action at the Last Supper; but see also the note on Matthew 14:19. [11] The exact number 153 is probably meant to have a symbolic meaning in relation to the apostles’ universal mission; Jerome claims that Greek zoologists catalogued 153 species of fish. Or 153 is the sum of the numbers from 1 to 17. Others invoke Ezekiel 47:10. [12] None . . . dared to ask him: is Jesus’ appearance strange to them? Cf Luke 24:16; Mark 16:12; John 20:14. The disciples do, however, recognize Jesus before the breaking of the bread (opposed to Luke 24:35). [14] This verse connects John 20 and 21; cf John 20:19, 26. [15-23] This section constitutes Peter’s rehabilitation and emphasizes his role in the church. [15-17] In these three verses there is a remarkable variety of synonyms: two different Greek verbs for love (see the note on John 15:13); two verbs for feed/tend; two nouns for sheep; two verbs for know. But apparently there is no difference of meaning. The threefold confession of Peter is meant to counteract his earlier threefold denial (John 18:17, 25, 27). The First Vatican Council cited these verses in defining that Jesus after his resurrection gave Peter the jurisdiction of supreme shepherd and ruler over the whole flock. [15] More than these: probably "more than these disciples do" rather than "more than you love them" or "more than you love these things [fishing, etc.]." [18] Originally probably a proverb about old age, now used as a figurative reference to the crucifixion of Peter.

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Dear Lord God, thank You for today, for Your love and the love of my family, You have blessed me so! Your love is a healing love and that is the love which You blessed me with today. O Lord, teach me and help show others by example of the power of this love, Your love. A love that I need to receive to be able to release, and in releasing receive. Dear Lord God I know I am not worthy, but I have learned to love and obey out of that love. For it is as St. Bernard proclaims today, we should love You God because You are God, and the measure of our love should be to love You without measure. And as the Psalmist sings, behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear You, on those who hope in Your steadfast love. And it is in this that You have blessed me indeed, for in and through Your love I have learned to fear You Lord. Not like the fear of the dark, but the fear of the light, a fear of being separated and without You, and in that a loneliness that I do not ever want to return to. For while I struggle in the light, stumbling and falling often, I rise with You. Dear Lord God continue Your work within me, I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord, my Savior. Amen

We should love God because He is God, and the measure of our love should be to love Him without measure.

— St Bernard

Acts 6:1-7

1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Proch’orus, and Nica’nor, and Ti’mon, and Par’menas, and Nicola’us, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Bible Study: [1-7] The Hellenists . . . the Hebrews: the Hellenists were not necessarily Jews from the diaspora, but were more probably Palestinian Jews who spoke only Greek. The Hebrews were Palestinian Jews who spoke Hebrew or Aramaic and who may also have spoken Greek. Both groups belong to the Jerusalem Jewish Christian community. The conflict between them leads to a restructuring of the community that will better serve the community’s needs. The real purpose of the whole episode, however, is to introduce Stephen as a prominent figure in the community whose long speech and martyrdom will be recounted in Acts 7. [2-4] The essential function of the Twelve is the "service of the word," including development of the kerygma by formulation of the teachings of Jesus. [2] To serve at table: some commentators think that it is not the serving of food that is described here but rather the keeping of the accounts that recorded the distribution of food to the needy members of the community. In any case, after Stephen and the others are chosen, they are never presented carrying out the task for which they were appointed (Acts 6:2-3). Rather, two of their number, Stephen and Philip, are presented as preachers of the Christian message. They, the Hellenist counterpart of the Twelve, are active in the ministry of the word.

Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19

1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. 2 Praise the LORD with the lyre, make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! 4 For the word of the LORD is upright; and all his work is done in faithfulness. 5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, 19 that he may deliver their soul from death, and keep them alive in famine.

Bible Study: [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Psalm 33:1-3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Psalm 33:4-5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Psalm 33:6-9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Psalm 33:10-11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Psalm 33:12-22).

John 6:16-21

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Caper’na-um. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, 20 but he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

Bible Study: [16-21] The fifth sign is a nature miracle, portraying Jesus sharing Yahweh’s power. Cf the parallel stories following the multiplication of the loaves in Mark 6:45-52 and Matthew 14:22-33. [19] Walking on the sea: although the Greek (cf John 6:16) could mean "on the seashore" or "by the sea" (cf John 21:1), the parallels, especially Matthew 14:25, make clear that Jesus walked upon the water. John may allude to Job 9:8: God "treads upon the crests of the sea." [20] It is I: literally, "I am." See also the notes on John 4:26 and Mark 6:50.

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