Daily Reflections

Third Thursday of Easter
[276]Acts 8:26-40
Ps 66: 8-9, 16-17, 20
John 6:44-51

I often ask myself how I came to believe in the God of the Bible and am grateful for many who shared their faith with me: individuals in my family, my home parish, and elsewhere. Their example helped me to understand what faith is about and to commit myself to this faith.

Every one of us has a unique journey to faith but today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles highlights four foundational aspects of coming to believe: (1) God’s calling, (2) listening, (3) desire to understand, and (4) concern for others.

God (1) called Philip through his angel and Philip (2) listened. Without asking why he should go to a particular place, simply trusting that it is for the best, he got up, went to where the angel asked him to go, and approached the chariot of the Ethiopian. He could have left it with that, but when the Ethiopian, (3) desiring to understand the meaning of a text from the Holy Scriptures, asked him to explain the text to him, he (4) showed concern for him and explained him the text.

The Ethiopian would have never come to believe:

If God had not called Philip through his angel.
If Philip had not listened to the angel and done what God wanted him to do.
If he himself had not had a desire to understand the Holy Scriptures.
If Philip had not been willing to share his faith with a stranger.

Let us ask ourselves what God calls us to do today through his many angels – human angels through which he speaks to us.
Let us reflect about our response to God’s call.
Let us critically assess our desire to better understand our faith.
Let us ponder if we are genuinely interested in sharing our faith with others.

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44)