Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
(Acts 14:19-28; John 14:27-31a)
Church historians speak of three “missionary journeys” of
the apostle Paul. The first is completed
in today’s first reading. The second will
take Paul into Europe (modern Greece).
The third will take years to complete and end in his being taken captive
in Jerusalem.
Throughout his missionary activity St. Paul experiences
hardship. Three times he is scourged and
three times, shipwrecked. Today’s
reading mentions the stoning after which he was left for dead. But the passage breathes satisfaction as well
with the apostles’ having accomplished their objective. Seeing the people both accept and keep the
faith confirms Paul and Barnabas’ trust in the Holy Spirit.
By contrast, a chief Church concern today is people passing
through RCIA and then abandoning the faith.
We must ask why this happens. One
cause may be the lack of witness.
Catholics are often nonchalant about putting into practice what the Church
teaches. When converts see this, they
may question their own commitment.
