Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

Today's Mass Readings

Torture. Humiliation. Imprisonment. “After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison….” (Acts 16:23) In the innermost cell, their feet were tied to a stake. How are they going to get out of this one?

“About midnight…” St. Luke writes a gripping story. What happens? Paul and Silas are up. They’re not sleeping at midnight. They are praying and singing songs to God, like hardcore Carthusian monks. The prisoners are listening; they’re not upset, griping, “Ah, shut up! I’m trying to sleep!” No, these captives are captivated by these strong-willed men with deep faith. Paul and Silas have hope that the Lord will get them out of this one.

EARTHQUAKE!

The stones crack. The chains break. The iron gates swing open. They’re free!

And the guard is devastated. He thinks everybody escaped. He thinks his life and career are ruined. He takes out his dagger to kill himself, like a melodramatic Greco-Roman.

“DO NO HARM TO YOURSELF! We are all here,” Paul shouts.

Just as jolting as an earthquake, the guard seeks conversion, to change his way of life. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you and your household will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)

For Today:
What do you need saving from? Will it take an earthquake for you to change? Pray for the grace.

Reflection by Br. Luke Kral, OSB