Praying to be a devout Christian

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The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Third Week of Easter, 17 April 2024
Acts 8:1-8     <*((((>< + ><))))*>     John 6:35-40

There broke out a severe persecution of the church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.

Acts 8:1-2

Your words today,
dear Jesus are very solemn
that despite the "severe persecution"
of the church that scattered Your
followers, the Apostles remained
while "devout men" 
buried St. Stephen
while lamenting aloud.

Only the Evangelist Luke
used the word devout in the
Scriptures: first in his gospel
to describe Simeon who waited
for Your coming at the Presentation
and thrice in the Acts in describing
Jews attending the Pentecost (2:5),
in burying St. Stephen (8:2), and
in calling Ananias "a devout observer 
of the law" whom You have instructed
to pray over and heal Saul after You
appeared to him on the way to
Damascus.

Fill us with joy, Lord,
 no matter how difficult
 life may be for us
like those devout men
 who buried St. Stephen
because we can never
 meet You,
Jesus,
in our complaints and whines,
fears and apprehensions
of the difficulties
 that abound around us;
more than being faithful to You,
 a devout person O Lord
 is one who does not only believe in You
but one who makes You present,
one who makes Your coming
a reality
 in every here and now.

Teach us to believe
in You, Lord Jesus,
that You are the "bread of life";
teach us, Jesus,
to act on our faith in You
openly and with courage,
not ashamed of the
consequences
because to be devout
is to care and respect
for each other
as Your indwelling.
Amen.