Sometimes in life and in faith, we imagine there is a magic formula to success. The truth is often a lot more ordinary and straightforward. Fr Richard reflects on today’s readings from Mass.
Readings for Monday of the 5th week of Easter can be found here.
Browse around any well-known bookstore and you are bound to find a self-help section. These kinds of books have become increasingly popular in recent years, and appear to offer the magic formula that you need to succeed in various different aspects of life. Titles such as “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, “Think and Grow Rich” and “Eat More Food and Lose More Weight”, seem to promise an awful lot. While the titles appear to guarantee an instant, miracle fix, the advice they contain is often more down-to-earth, a mixture of common sense and hard work.
Sometimes in the life of faith we might wish there was a magic formula or secret answer to being a better Christian. If only we could discover it, we might think, then all of a sudden we can become closer to God, live holier lives, and our churches will start growing. Perhaps we look at others who appear more successful than ourselves, and imagine that they have discovered the secret. In our first reading today, the people of Lystra think they have understood the secret reason why Paul and Barnabas were able to heal the lame man. They assume that the pair must in fact be the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes, and start worshipping them, much to the apostles’ horror.
The truth about Paul and Barnabas is much more straightforward. They are not gods come down to earth but human beings like us, in whom the Holy Spirit was at work. This Holy Spirit is available to us all, and there is no magic formula or secret answer to receiving it. In the Gospel Jesus says: “If anyone loves me … My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.” All we need to be is people who love Jesus – it’s that simple. If we do that, even a tiny bit, then Jesus will come to us and enable us to do incredible things in his name.
Mass today is in St Dyfrig & St Samson at 10am.
If you’d like more resources for daily prayer then check out our Day By Day pages.
South Cardiff Ministry Area 