GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 3RD JUNE 2017
SATURDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER
MEMORIAL OF SAINT CHARLES LWANGA AND COMPANIONS
FIRST READING: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31
PSALM: Psalm 11:4,5,7
GOSPEL: John 21:20-25
THEME: PAUL IN ROME
Gazing at a little plant sprouting through a crack in a cement-concrete slab, my thoughts quickly went to the saying, “bloom wherever you are planted”.
Sometimes, life can be very challenging and we may find ourselves in difficult terrains/circumstances but wherever one is planted, one can still live a meaningful and fruitful life and make a difference.
In our First Reading, we have an account of Paul’s arrival in Rome: he had been brought there as a prisoner and lived there under house arrest. Even in that difficult situation, Paul found a way of engaging himself in some limited apostolic work. He would evangelise the crowd that gathered around his home and it was during this challenging moment in his life that he wrote what is popularly referred to as the “Captivity Epistles”, addressed to the Ephesians, the Philippians, the Colossians and to Philemon.
Though bound with chains, Paul preached the Gospel in order to unchain those in spiritual captivity. The last two verses of today’s First Reading has it that “he lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Act 28:30-31).
Indeed God had a purpose for Paul in Rome. In fact the Lord Jesus had told him previously, “Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem, now you must do the same in Rome” (Acts 23:11).
Like Paul, the Lord has a purpose for us wherever we find ourselves. Are you in Ghana? God put you there. Are you in Nigeria? God put you there. Are you in the US or UK? God put you there. Are you in Rome? God put you there. Even if you are under house arrest, like Paul, see yourself as having been planted there by the Lord to be a living witness of the Gospel. It is in availing ourselves completely to the Lord that the Holy Spirit would use us to bring about massive transformation in the very place and among the people where we find ourselves.
PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, may the power of your Spirit fill me with strength wherever I find myself. In season and out of season make me a living witness of the Gospel. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).