Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, all of us are reminded today through the readings of the Sacred Scriptures of the reality of being the followers and disciples of the Lord, to be Christians, in living our lives faithfully each day and in our dedication towards God. To be a Christian is not for us to expect that our lives will be fully happy and uneventful. Instead, the reality is such that as Christians, more likely than not we will be facing difficulties and hardships in our path. This is because the ways of the Lord and His truth are not compatible with those of the world and the forces of evil present all around us in this world. Therefore, if we choose to be faithful to God and follow Him wholeheartedly, there will likely be hardships, trials, tears and sorrow that we will have to endure in our path.

In our first reading today, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, we heard of the account of what happened in the immediate aftermath of the martyrdom of St. Stephen, one of the seven holy Deacons appointed and chosen by the Holy Spirit to be the ministers of the Church. St. Stephen was martyred after he courageously stood up for his faith in God before the whole assembly of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish High Council and all those plotting his downfall and destruction because they despised what he was teaching and preaching before the people of God. Thus, St. Stephen was stoned to death by the angry mob and all those who were opposed to him. Yet, despite all the sufferings, he followed the Lord’s example and forgave those who have persecuted him, asking the Lord not to hold their sins against them.

Then we heard how the persecutions continued throughout Judea and Jerusalem, led especially by one particular Saul, a very zealous young Pharisee, whom we also know as Paul later in his life after his conversion to be a committed and faithful Christian. At that time Saul was very ardent in his misguided zeal to destroy and eradicate all those who followed Jesus and His teachings, and he went around the whole area and using violent methods, arresting and striking against all those early Christian believers, many of whom had to go into hiding and be scattered throughout the land. Yet, as we have also heard how the Apostles and disciples of the Lord still continued with their works and ministries, spreading the words of the Lord and His Good News of salvation to everyone whom they encountered.

This is a reminder for all of us that while we may indeed have to face a lot of challenges and hardships in our path as Christians, but we should not give up our struggle and efforts to carry out the missions and works which the Lord Himself has entrusted to us, and as He Himself has promised and reassured us, He would always be with His Church, with His faithful ones, and He would not let us all to fail in our missions and works, as in the end, despite the many challenges and struggles, hardships and trails that we all have to face in our path and ministries, but with God and His guidance and providence, all of us will be strengthened and helped in our works and efforts, and we will be protected and guarded against the efforts of the evil ones seeking our downfall and destruction. But we must really have faith in the Lord, have trust and faith that He will provide for us.

In our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, we continue to hear the discourse on the Bread of Life that we have started hearing from yesterday. In that passage, we heard how the Lord Jesus continued to refer to Himself as the Bread of Life, the Heavenly Bread that has come from the Father in Heaven. We heard how He reassured all those who believe in Him that they will all be blessed and be given the promise of eternal life. Such is indeed what the faithful people of God, all of us as Christians have received from the Lord this wonderful gift, the gift of the Living Bread, the Bread that will satisfy us forever and give us true happiness, joy and eternal life with Him.

And this promise of everlasting life is something which many of us as Christians have held up strongly in our own lives, in our own conviction to follow Him and dedicate ourselves to His cause. Like so many of our predecessors before us, they have all trusted in the Lord’s promise and been strengthened by the reassurances that they have received from God Himself, that their earthly existence, their many sufferings and hardships will eventually be vindicated, and through the guidance and providence of God, all of us as His people would be led to the eternity of true happiness and joy with Him. That is why we must not allow ourselves to be overcome by fear and doubt, uncertainty or insecurity because we think that we suffer all these things alone. God is always by our side, guiding and providing for us.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore put our trust in God and renew our faith in Him, trusting in whatever it is that He has planned for us. God has always been by our side, journeying with us and giving us the strength and courage to carry on this journey. Through His Presence in our midst, in His Real Presence in the Eucharist, in His Most Precious Body and Blood, the Lord has shown His ever-constant and present love, His ever enduring and persistent faithfulness to the Covenant which He had made with all of us. He has shown us that His promises and reassurances are not mere empty words, but are truly genuine and sincere commitment which He has made to us all, to His beloved children and people, whom He wants to love wholeheartedly, and which therefore we should reciprocate with our own love and devotion.

May the Risen Lord, our most loving God and Saviour continue to guide us all in our path and journey in faith and life. May He, the Bread of Life, the Living Bread from Heaven, continue to provide for us all whatever we need in this journey, which may be heavy and difficult. The challenges and hardships that we may encounter in our path should not make us to doubt the Lord’s Providence and Presence in our midst. Instead, we should continue to be reminded of His love and grace, of everything that He has given us all, of all the kindness and compassionate love which He has granted to us. May He bless us all in our every good efforts and works, our every endeavours, now and always. Amen.