First Reading – Adapted from Acts 6:8-15
Stephen was filled with grace and power, and he was working great miracles among the people. Many people debated with Stephen, but they could not match the wisdom and Spirit with which he spoke.
They convinced some men to say, “We heard him speaking disrespectfully about Moses and God.” They made the elders and the people angry, and they arrested Stephen, and brought him to the Jewish court. In the court people lied and said, “This man never stops insulting this holy place and the law. He claims Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the laws that Moses gave to us.” Those in the court looked at Stephen and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30
Even though princes sit plotting against me,
thy servant will meditate on thy statutes.
Thy testimonies are my delight,
they are my counselors.
When I told of my ways, thou didst answer me;
teach me thy statutes!
Make me understand the way of thy precepts,
and I will meditate on thy wondrous works.
Put false ways far from me;
and graciously teach me thy law!
I have chosen the way of faithfulness,
I set thy ordinances before me.
Gospel – Adapted from John 6:22-29
[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.] The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, you are looking for me not because you saw signs of God’s power, but because you ate the food I gave you. Do not work for food that does not last, but for food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for on him the Father has set his seal.”
They said to him, “What should we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he has sent.”
Saint Zita
Born: 1218
Died: 1272
Zita was born in a village near Lucca, Italy. Her parents were poor, but they were also very pious and raised Zita to be a loving Christian. In those days, families sent their teenage daughters away to work for other families, who would then pay them for their services as servants. Zita was sent to the Fatinelli family when she turned twelve.
The Fatinellis were good people, and Zita was happy to work for them. She performed her duties well. She found ways to pray during the day and woke early to attend morning Mass. Zita was a hard-worker, and the other Fatinelli workers were annoyed by her. They were lazy and tried to get away with doing nothing. They picked on Zita when the Fatinellis were not around. Once, one of the workers tried to kiss Zita. She fought him off, leaving him with scratches on his face.
Mr. Fatinelli questioned Zita about the incident. She honestly told him what happened. He immediately made her the head housekeeper. The Fatinelli children were placed under her care, and the workers stopped picking on her. Zita spent the rest of her life working for the Fatinellis. She loved them and served them as if they were her own family.
