Reflections of a beloved son

When we allow God to enter our hearts He will fill it with love and all the graces we need. St. Stephen was "filled with grace and power" because he allowed God to enter into his heart. And through him others came to know Jesus and His Father. But not without persecution and hardship. Doing good will not always be pain-free. But it will always make a difference in someone's life. Your act of charity can move people to conversion, heal wounds, and restore brokenness. Let God work through you.

" Do you understand what you are reading? " Philip asked.  " How can I, unless someone instructs me? " the Ethiopian court official answered (Read Acts 8:26-40). How many of us want to understand the mysteries of life?  Or know the secrets to joy and happiness?  Or for some closer to home, how many of us want to just know how to get through this week and put food on the table?  In the Acts of the Apostles, while on his way preaching the Good News, the Angel of the Lord told the Apostle Philip go south.  When he listened and followed the path as instructed, there he saw an Ethiopian court official who was reading from the Prophet Isaiah.  And the Spirit told Philip to go to him.  Philip did and he asked him the question that started this reflection.  "Do you understand....? "  By this question, Philip opened up for the court official windows and doors of opportunity and grace.  By being docile to the Holy Spirit, Philip was able to c...

In today's first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (2:36-41), Peter speaks to the Jewish people on the day of Pentecost saying "...God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."  In other words, they have crucified and killed the Lord and the Christ.  The Scriptures tell us that " they were cut to the heart " upon hearing this.  Cut to the heart.  What does that mean? Perhaps we could understand "cut to the heart" as feeling hurt, pain, guilty, remorseful, shocked, or a multitude and combination of related emotions.  It could also have brought emotions of anger.  However, what is more important is how the people chose to respond to this very real emotion they were feeling.  Were their hearts softened?  Hardened? Fortunately some asked Peter, " What are we to do, my brothers? "  That feeling of being cut to the heart moved the peoples' hearts to conversion.  It was most likely the work of the Holy Spirit se...