Today’s Readings – Wednesday of Week 7 of Easter - First Reading

Commentary on Acts 20:28-38

Just to remind ourselves, we are still with Paul on his Third Missionary Journey.  And today we have the second part of his farewell discourse to the elders of the church at Ephesus.  In the first part Paul had spoken mainly about himself.

In today’s reading he begins by reminding them that they are to carry out the responsibility implied in their title.  As ‘elders’ (presbyteroi) they are called to watch over the flock entrusted to them.  They have been appointed ‘overseers’.  The elders are called “overseers” (episkopoi, from which come words like ‘bishop’ and ‘episcopal’) and told to pastor ("shepherd") the flock - demonstrating that the same men could be called “elders", “overseers&rdqu … Continue

Yesterday’s Readings – Saint Matthias Apostle

There is only one mention of Matthias in the whole of the New Testament and that is in chapter 1 of the Acts of the Apostles, whose author is always understood to have been Luke, the author of the Gospel bearing his name.

According to Acts, after the Ascension of Jesus to his Father, th … Continue