May 5, Thursday, the Third Week of Easter
Daily Readings: Acts 8:26-40; Gospel John 6:44-51
If Eucharistic Communion is a joyful event, we must help others delight. The mission sent out at the end of the Eucharist will resound in the joyous moments we share and create with others in various situations.
Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian Eunuch bears fruit in the Eunuch’s request for baptism. Philip utilizes the moment of encounter by proclaiming Jesus. Philip gives witness to the true identity of being a disciple of Jesus. He makes every moment of encountering others a moment of meeting Jesus. This encounter leaves joy in the person. "He [the Eunuch] continued on his way rejoicing." Philip allows the Eunuch to "have the personal joy of being with Jesus" without being disturbed by his presence, so he disappears from the Eunuch.
As Christians, may our interactions with others in ministry bring them joy.
The experiences of the possessed, the paralyzed, and the disabled in yesterday’s first reading and the Ethiopian Eunuch in the first reading of today tell us that the genuine encounter with Jesus brings us joy.
Jesus is our joy. And the greatest joy will be experienced in the eternal life in heaven where Jesus is seated with the Father. Consequently, Jesus wants us to partake in that greatest joy. The question is, how?
There are two moments when we can experience the greatest joy. The first is believing in Jesus. Jesus is the way to the Father in heaven. He is the way to eternal life. The greatest pleasure in heaven is only accessible to those who believe in him. However, Jesus reminds us that the grace of faith is a gift from God. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him."
The second is the Eucharist. In every Eucharistic celebration, Jesus gives us his body as the bread of life, which guarantees us our eternal life in him. Through the sacrament of the Eucharist, we can already foretaste the joy of eternal life. We will find the perfection of joy when we meet the Father face-to-face in eternal life in heaven.
If Eucharistic Communion is a joyful moment, then our mission is to provide joy to others. The mission sent after the Eucharist will find an echo in the moments of joy that we share and generate with others in various contexts.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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