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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.
