For anyone accessing this blog post who is not from Our Lady of the Way at Emu Plains – firstly, welcome and thanks for the blessing of your presence! Secondly, that picture on the cover of this post is the ‘baptism font’ in the church at Emu Plains. I’ve put it there simply because it picks up on a baptism theme in what is the first reading set down for the Mass of today – Thursday of the Third Week of Easter. Oh, and while on that, I should say again – ‘Happy Easter’.
Today’s post is simply the readings of today’s Mass and a voice recorded homily that I hope assists your own reflections and thoughts. You may or may not have seen yesterday’s post, which was a sharing of the full Mass, half by live stream (which can still be accessed in that Wednesday post) and half shared in a way that calls on each person’s leadership. Hope it was enriching.
Readings and Recorded Homily today
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (8:26-40)
The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, ‘Be ready to set out at noon along the road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza, the desert road.’ So he set off on his journey. Now it happened that an Ethiopian had been on pilgrimage to Jerusalem; he was a eunuch and an officer at the court of the kandake, or queen, of Ethiopia, and was in fact her chief treasurer. He was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot he was reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go up and meet that chariot.’ When Philip ran up, he heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ ‘How can I’ he replied ‘unless I have someone to guide me?’ So he invited Philip to get in and sit by his side. Now the passage of scripture he was reading was this:
Like a sheep that is led to the slaughter-house,
like a lamb that is dumb in front of its shearers,
like these he never opens his mouth.
He has been humiliated and has no one to defend him.
Who will ever talk about his descendants,
since his life on earth has been cut short!
The eunuch turned to Philip and said, ‘Tell me, is the prophet referring to himself or someone else?’ Starting, therefore, with this text of scripture Philip proceeded to explain the Good News of Jesus to him.
Further along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘Look, there is some water here; is there anything to stop me being baptised?’ He ordered the chariot to stop, then Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water and Philip baptised him. But after they had come up out of the water again Philip was taken away by the Spirit of the Lord, and the eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Philip found that he had reached Azotus and continued his journey proclaiming the Good News in every town as far as Caesarea.
The word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation (John 6:51-52)
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the living bread from heaven, says the Lord;
whoever eats this bread will live for ever.
Alleluia!
A Reading from the holy Gospel according to John (6:44-51)
Jesus said to the crowd:
‘No one can come to me
unless they are drawn by the Father who sent me,
and I will raise them up at the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They will all be taught by God,
and to hear the teaching of the Father,
and learn from it,
is to come to me.
Not that anybody has seen the Father,
except the one who comes from God:
he has seen the Father.
I tell you most solemnly,
everybody who believes has eternal life.
‘I am the bread of life.
Your fathers ate the manna in the desert
and they are dead;
but this is the bread that comes down from heaven,
so that a person may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever;
and the bread that I shall give is my flesh,
for the life of the world.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
HOMILY TODAY
(press the triangle play button to hear)
Have a happy day – see you in the next post and
with friendship in God’s mission,
fr Paul
Thanks Paul. Very helpful the way you have situated the reading in the wider context of the message moving beyond its Jewish roots and placing Philip’s connection with the Ethiopian in that context. Surprising he doesn’t have a name. Might he be a representative character? Thank you for your ‘Philip role’. At times, not enough I’m sure, I’m aware of the Ethiopian in me. Also very much appreciated the questions? An answer that came was the people regularly on the news who are putting their lives at risk for others at this time. Suspect for many there’s no motivation for… Read more »
What a rich and helpful reflection Chris! Thank you so much. Here’s hoping many see your words and find them helpful – we should also let people know about them from another blog post! So much to ponder for our guidance and growth
Father Paul I could get use to listening to your reflections during my lunch break instead of constantly answering the door to students. However actions speak louder than words and your words of encouragement inspire me to encourage them still further and help them on the journey to being the best that they can possibly be so that the footsteps they take through life lead them closer to God even if they don’t realize it.
Yes Stevenie you must answer the door to your awesome 10.6 Colyton High students.