“SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER”
Daily Spiritual Reflections
22nd May 2021
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SATURDAY, SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER
Reading 1: Acts 28: 16-20, 30-31 Paul is now in prison in Rome, but people come to him and he continues to preach the Gospel.
Gospel: Jn 21: 20-25 Peter follows after Jesus but then wonders about John; Jesus tells him: “Your business is to follow me.”
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INTERIOR FREEDOM
Today is the last weekday of the Easter season. On the one hand, we read the last part of the Acts and on the other that of the Gospel of John. The whole story of the Acts was to tell us of the presence of Jesus in the Church through the presence and the action of the Holy Spirit. St Paul was enamoured with the love of Christ and felt the inner urge to proclaim the love of Christ that presses us on (cf. 2 Cor 5: 14). His sole intention was to proclaim Jesus Christ as the hope of Israel, the coming of the Kingdom of God through the Lord Jesus. He did it with all his might despite all opposition, bearing sufferings and chains.
By nature, man is a social animal and strives to be free. Being under somebody’s authority obstructs our freedom and we struggle to find an occasion to get away from these persons. But such freedom is just exterior freedom. There is something more than that which is called interior or spiritual freedom. This interior freedom is acquired only through the love of God. St Teresa of Avila says, “The closer one approaches God, the simpler one becomes.” In today’s readings, we see personalities whose lives changed after coming closer to God. Sts Peter, John and Paul manifested interior freedom in the zeal with which they proclaimed the good news and in their simple way of living.
Every Christian has been entrusted with a special mission by the Lord. Some are called to give witness to the Lord through martyrdom and others through their exemplary life of faith, are called to proclaim the Kingdom of God. In baptism, we have received that same love of the Risen Lord, and are given the great responsibility to carry forward this fire of love through our deeds and words. Let us first begin with ourselves for in our life, there are many areas where the Good News has not yet reached. Others will then see Christ in us. Let us pray that Jesus will bless us with inner freedom.
Res. Psalm: Ps 11: 4-5, 7 The upright shall behold your face, O Lord.
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