May 20, 2025 // Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter // Optional Memorial of Saint Bernardine of Siena, Priest
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Acts 14:19-28
Reflect on the Word //
Stoned, dragged out of the city, left for dead.
Unspeakable suffering.
Saint Paul had such a redemption story. Why did he have to die now, with so much potential ahead of him? Through wet, tear-blurred eyes, I read on, because the story wasn’t over.
He got up.
This part of the story perhaps should have made me gasp with joy: He’s not dead?! Paul lives! Oh, thank You, Jesus! But I’ve never once read the stories of Saint Paul with such an emotional investment. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I read the verses a few times before I recognized the miracles right under my nose.
“But when the disciples gathered around him . . .” (Acts 14:20) For a man who’d not so long ago breathed murderous threats towards the disciples (see Acts 9:1) to now have members of the believing community surrounding him in love—is a miracle. I see now that the Lord changed not only Paul’s heart, but also softened the disciples’ hearts to embrace Paul as a fellow believer.
And then “. . . he got up” (Acts 14:20). Paul wasn’t dead. He got up and continued the mission! I can’t manage to cook dinner with a headache, but Paul got up and continued to proclaim the Good News after being stoned almost to death. Incredible.
So many times I’ve heard this story without paying attention to the gift of Paul’s friends, to the wonder of the Holy Spirit active in the disciples’ lives. I wonder how much more I have missed, how many miracles and redemption stories around me go unnoticed.
The Lord wants us to begin to see His redemption at work in every Confession, to treasure the gift of friends who lift us up in prayer and don’t give up, to feel the power of His grace which helps us stand amidst suffering. He wants to open our eyes and our hearts to His everyday miracles so that we don’t miss the joy of seeing His work in our lives, so that we will have the strength like Paul to undergo the “many hardships” necessary “to enter the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
Relate to the Lord // What small sacrifice can you make today for the love of Christ?
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