What is the work of God? Jesus answered, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”
Stephen, in the first reading was filled with grace and power as he proclaimed the work of God. He worked great wonders and signs among the people. This aroused fear and hatred from the religious leaders, who instead of being thankful, seized him, and brought him before the Sanhedrin accusing him of blasphemy.
Hatred can distort minds and images. The Sanhedrin looked at the face of Stephen, they saw the face of an angel and made it that of a devil.
What do the crowd searching for Jesus see when they look at Him?
The people that Jesus fed what do they see? Do they see the goodness and generosity of the Lord, or do they see food and were concerned only about stuffing food between their teeth? They simply wanted more food.
When you and I heard the story of the feeding of 5000 what comes to our mind?
When we celebrate Mass, what do we celebrate?
As we are in the year of the Eucharistic Revival let us take a moment weekly to reflect on what we celebrate and receive. The Eucharist enables us to look with the eyes of Jesus and to see so much more than we ever thought to exist round about us.
Saint Mother Teresa would say “It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start.”
May we look at strangers and see them as our brothers and sisters.
Have a wonderful week
