Acts 12:24 - 13:5 / John 12:14-50
There is an emphasis during the season of Lent on the spiritual practices of prayer and fasting.
After all the season of Lent is penitential in character and on Ash Wednesday, which begins the season of Lent, Jesus talked about prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Even though the season of Lent is over and we are already into the 4th week of Easter, we may still feel that the Lenten penitential spirituality of prayer, penance and almsgiving still continues.
And of course we know why we are feeling this way, with what is happening around us.
But the fact is that the life of a Christian is a life of prayer, fasting or penance, and almsgiving.
We must pray, we must do penance and we must help the poor and the needy.
We do this so that we will be purified from the desires of earthly things and bestowed with heavenly blessings, as we look for the light in these times.
In the 1st reading, we read that the disciples were offering worship to the Lord and keep a fast when the Holy Spirit revealed the plans of God for them.
So in these times, let us pray, let us do penance and fasting, and let us be the light of Christ for those who are poor and needy.
In doing all this, then the joy of the Lord will be our strength.