Eucharistic Readings for Friday in Easter Week: Year C
Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14; Psalm 116:1-8 or Psalm 118:19-24:
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is `the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:8 -12)
I have learned from buying furniture that comes unassembled in a box with various loose pieces, to not throw anything away – at least until the new item is completely assembled. The very piece you think has no use is the very piece that holds everything together. So it is with people too.
There was a small parish that needed to raise funds to do various carpentry projects around the building. Much attention was given to the high dollar folk in the congregation. And almost disregard was given to the poor or out of work parishioners. One of the out-of-work persons, it turns out, was a carpenter, who, at the time, had both the talent and the time to make a huge difference in how much money they would need or that could be saved. We can’t dismiss anybody.
Each and every one of us contains a treasure that God has put in us. The Creating Word has placed in each of us something the rest of us needs. There are no trash people. We may trash ourselves, but that’s not God’s doing. I fear that some people turn to do bad things because they don’t know that God has blessed them with a much needed gift. It’s in you and it’s in me. We need each other. God made us that way.
Jesus is the only One who has the one thing that all people need, salvation. Since it is through Jesus that we all came into being, it is also through Jesus that we all have eternal life. And he was the piece that was thrown away! Thank God that “forever” death was overturned.
How many gifts are contained in the people of Ukraine? They are our gifts. We need to save them.
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.
What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube
As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 
That was a wonderful blov. I wish I could print it. You did fantastic.
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