Thursday of the Third Week of Easter

Today's Mass Readings

In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we are told the story of the Ethiopian eunuch. He is reading from the prophet Isaiah, who is speaking of the Messiah to come. He does not know how to interpret Isaiah’s words, and Philip offers to explain them to him. He willingly accepts Philip’s offer to help him understand the scriptures, which eventually leads to the eunuch’s baptism.

This eunuch shows such a beautiful act of faith. Often, we come across moments in our lives that the Lord intends for us to experience, bringing us closer to Him, and we ignore them. He gives us opportunities to open our hearts to Him, just as we see the eunuch do in the first reading. We can get caught up in our daily lives: the struggles, the highs, and the experiences. However, if we are willing to humble ourselves, open our hearts, and abandon our will, we will see Him act in our lives, just as the eunuch did.

The gospel speaks of a similar theme today as well. Jesus tells us that the Father draws us to Him, and that is how we come to Him. He states, “Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.” This is where we see the theme continue from the first reading. If we are willing to open ourselves and earnestly listen to Christ, we are more willing to give ourselves to Christ, which brings us the fulfillment God wants for us. We see this fulfillment exemplified in the eunuch in the first reading, who asks to be baptized, and in our own lives in the joy and peace that God brings when we open ourselves to Him.

Reflection by Logan, seminarian