Reading 1 Acts 7:51—8:1a
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,
you always oppose the Holy Spirit;
you are just like your ancestors.
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.
You received the law as transmitted by angels,
but you did not observe it.”
When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him.
But Stephen, 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,
and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened
and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
But they cried out in a loud voice,
covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.
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.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
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.
Now Saul was consenting to his execution.
Responsorial Psalm PS 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab
or:
R. Alleluia.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
My trust is in the LORD;
I will rejoice and be glad of your mercy.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plottings of men.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia Jn 6:35ab
R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the bread of life, says the Lord;
whoever comes to me will never hunger.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Jn 6:30-35
“What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?
What can you do?
Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:
He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
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.
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.”
So they said to Jesus,
“Sir, give us this bread always.”
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.”
THE TRUTH IS NOT NEGOTIABLE
"The way of truth I have chosen." –Psalm 119:30
Jesus, the Truth (Jn 14:6), stood for the truth. He paid for this stand with His life, as His opponents used deceit, lies, and intimidation of witnesses to condemn Him to death. St. Stephen stood for the truth. He paid for this stand with his life, as his opponents likewise used deceit, lies, and intimidation of witnesses to condemn him to death.
The Catholic Church stands for the truth, regardless of whether or not the truth is "politically correct." The Church proclaims the truths that Jesus is really present in the Holy Eucharist, that marriage is only between one man and one woman, that homosexual acts are always sinful, that abortion is murder, that contraception is sinful and contrary to God's plan even though most Christian denominations have refused to teach this, that the poor must be defended and have a special dignity, and many other unpopular truths.
In this culture of death and throughout human history, those dedicated to a cause contrary to the truth have generally refused to repent and humbly submit themselves to the truth. These opponents of the truth instead change the language to "call evil good, and good evil" (Is 5:20). These people try to intimidate others into exchanging "the truth of God for a lie" (Rm 1:25).
People of God, imitate Jesus and St. Stephen. "Even to the death fight for truth, and the Lord your God will battle for you" (Sir 4:28). The truth is not negotiable. Speak the truth in love (see Eph 4:15). "The truth will set you free" (Jn 8:32).
| PRAYER: | Father, "we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth" (2 Cor 13:8). Give Your Church and its members Your very own strength. |
| PROMISE: | "This is the work of God: have faith in the One Whom He sent." –Jn 6:29 |
| PRAISE: | St. Stanislaus warned the king of danger to his soul and was martyred. |
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