Acts 6:8-15 / John 6:22-29
A Christian is just like everyone in this world, at least in the ordinary sense of the word.
Yet a Christian should always remember that though he is in this world, he is not of this world.
His principles and values are based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
His response in the face of challenges and difficulties should also be Christ-like, and not to be like that of the world.
In the 1st reading, the deacon Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people.
Then came the challenges from opponents and they plotted against him and even caught him by surprise and arrested him.
In the face of false accusations, Stephen did not respond or tried to defend himself.
As the response in the Responsorial Psalm puts it: They are happy whose life is blameless.
We may not find ourselves in that kind of situation as Stephen was in.
But our mission as Christians is to bear witness to the world that we put our faith in God and look with hope to an eternal life.
As Jesus said in the gospel: Do not work for food that cannot last, but work for food that endures to eternal life.
We live in this world, but may our lives bear witness to our faith and hope to the eternal life with God.