WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED…

Acts 16:22-34 
22 The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.
24 Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s fetters were unfastened.
27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas,30 and brought them out and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?”
31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house.33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family.
34 Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.

John 16:5-11

6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.8 And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more;11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

MEDITATION 

St LUKE recount Paul and Silas harrowing experience when they were beaten by a hostile crowd and jailed on the order of a magistrate. Un der swayed by the beatings, invective and animus of the secular authorities the two evangelists sung and gave praise to God whilst catechising their jailer from within their prison cell.

When an earthquake erupted; opening the prison gates and unfettered the ankel braces of the evangelists, they stopped the prison gaurd from attempting to commit suicide, for he feared that his masters would hold him accountable for the escape of the evangelists. Realizing and recognizing that his prisoners were holy men with special gifts who were sent by God, he submitted to them which brought about his request to have him and his whole family baptized in the middle of the night, freeing them from original sin brought about by Adam and Eve.

THE GOSPEL READING: The eleven Apostles were distressed and perturbed upon discovering that Christ was about to leave them, inspite of the fact that He would send the Counselor the Holy Spirit to instruct and fortify them in their missionary journey.

The fact that we assented to follow Christ at our baptism and confirmation making us recipients of the Holy Spirit and Gods saving grace, it does not follow or suppose that our lives will forever be wonderful without trails and tribulations, not so! From time to time we may go back to our old ways and or encounter pushback, dissension, pain suffering and even persecution, however we must embrace felicitous circumstances and use the importunity to repent renew our vows and be loving, charitable and virtuous so as to move those who prosecute, hate and jail us to desire and experience Gods mercy and forgiveness-‐- in the Sacraments— so they like us may also be saved on the last day!

LET US PRAY: Psalms 138:1-3,7-8

1 A Psalm of David.I give thee thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing thy praise;2 I bow down toward thy holy temple and give thanks to thy name for thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness; for thou hast exalted above everything thy name and thy word.
3 On the day I called, thou didst answer me, my strength of soul thou didst increase.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou dost preserve my life; thou dost stretch out thy hand against the wrath of my enemies, and thy right hand delivers me.8 The LORD will fulfil his purpose for me; thy steadfast love, O LORD, endures for ever. Do not forsake the work of thy hands.
5 But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days