The Feast of St Athanasius | Monday 2 May 2022

Today is Monday the 2nd of May, the feast of St Athanasius, in the third week of Easter.
Silent, surrendered, calm and still. Open to the word of God. In all that is going on around me, all the movement, all the noise, can I find a moment of calmness and stillness now? Can I feel God’s presence here and surrender myself to it, opening myself to listen to God’s word?
Silent, surrendered, calm and still,
open to the word of God.
Heart humbled to his will,
offered is the servant of God.


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.
John 6:22-29
The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’

Today is the feast day of St Athanasius. He is known for his devotion and defence of Christ’s divinity. In these early days of Eastertide, how do you respond to the wonder of the Resurrection? To the understanding of Jesus as true God and true Man?
In today’s scripture reading, we experience the energy and commitment of the crowd. They almost have Jesus under surveillance, noticing every movement, then determinedly moving after him. How do you pay attention to the Lord? Do you seek him out in the moments of the day?

As you listen to the reading again, notice that Jesus calls the people to question their intentions. Consider what it is you seek. Are you being called to a deeper faith?
‘‘What must we do?’ Perhaps here is the question that comes from your heart. Ask it now in faith and trust.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.