Food That Endures

Food That Endures

April 15, 2013

Monday of the Third Week of Easter

Then they instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”  They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, accosted him, seized him, and brought him before the Sanhedrin.  They presented false witnesses who testified, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law.  For we have heard him claim that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”  Acts 6:11-14

Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.  For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”  So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”  John 6:27-29

Piety

Father, call us like you called your servant Stephen.  Jesus, help us to stir up the people we meet today to help in building your Kingdom.  Holy Spirit, grant us the gifts needed to believe.  Amen.

Study

How can Christianity co-exist in any socio-political environment in which people are looking to make personal advancement?  How can Christianity exists anyplace but somewhere in which the socio-political environment requires people to focus on personal advancement? 

As a religious tradition, Jesus started something that ran counter to the prevailing culture from the moment of the Annunciation.  Mary denied her own will in order to follow God's will.  Jesus picked up that banner and continued to challenge authority, personal goals, and cultural norms.  At first, the Twelve wanted to retreat back to the comfortable lives as fishermen.  AS we turn the page from the Resurrection to the Acts of the Apostles, we see how the disciples finally became revolutionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

Action

Do not work for food that perishes.  As we complete the tax filing (and extension filing) season, today's Good News rings true.  The Tax Foundation tells us that "Tax Freedom Day" is the day when the nation as a whole has earned enough money to pay off its total tax bill for the year.  They claim that "Tax Freedom Day" provides Americans with an easy way to gauge the overall tax take-a task that can otherwise be daunting due to the multiplicity of taxes at various levels of government and "hidden" taxes and fees that are often buried in the cost of living.

Even though you are required to render unto "Caesar" your tax return by midnight tonight, Tax Freedom Day 2013 is not until April 18th.

When is your Works of God Freedom Day?  On what date this year will you stop working for yourself and start working for God?