Tuesday Reading

Acts 6:1-12
At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith. Now Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. Then they instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, accosted him, seized him, and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

John 16:12-15
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.

Like Stephen we are invited to be filled with the Spirit and wisdom. We are filled with the Spirit at baptism, but we must also pray to be filled with the Spirit. When we pray for the Spirit, we are praying to live for God, to know God’s love, and to be transformed by that love. Stephen worked great wonders because he was filled with grace and power. Stephen knew what the Christian life could be and strove for the life of intimacy with God, which he offered to others. Stephen knew God, and his whole life was aligned to the will of God. Stephen found his joy and purpose in God. The more Stephen sought the Spirit, the more the Spirit was given to Him, and the more the Spirit filled Stephen, the more Stephen sought God. God has begun, and we need only to respond, to seek, and to persevere in love. The Spirit is waiting to guide us to all truth, are we ready?

PRAYER – Sedro from the Hoosoyo for Safro for Tuesday of the Common of the Week according to the Prayer of the Faithful of the Maronite Rite
Creator of the world and Ruler of all beings, You uphold everything by Your power and guide all things in Your wisdom. You have made evening and morning, night and day. Lord God, during this evening grant our souls freedom from all evil thoughts and our bodies rest from all harmful fatigue. Accept our vigil and receive our worship, that Your calm may reign over us, and Your peace govern our hearts. Thus, our minds will be freed from the darkness of sin. Be for us the Sun of justice; illumine us with Your spiritual light, Lord, that we may not sleep amid confusion and shame, but be awakened to labor according to Your commandments. Do not turn Your ever-watchful eye from us, but guard us in Your mercy. Lord, do not let the wolf enter into Your sheepfold to devour the sheep marked with Your seal, but protect us with Your merciful right hand and save us from the enemy. Keep the snares of the devil far from us and drive away all evil spirits. Let no obscure thoughts fill us, but rather grant us, asleep or awake, to persevere in what is pleasing to You and to store up deeds of goodness and light for the great and awesome Day. Then we shall be counted among those who inherit the heavenly and eternal joys, in that place of light where neither darkness nor trouble can penetrate, and we shall glorify You, Your Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.