The seven-man committee
Acts 6:1–7; Psalm 33; John 6:16–21
Acts 6:1–7 describes some of the growing pains of the early church and how the leaders responded. The Bible says, “They picked out seven men full of the Holy Spirit.” These men were to handle the daily distribution of food so as to curb the ethnic dispute between the Hellenists and the Hebrews.
In handling ethnic disputes and other irregularities, we should not only be conscious of the constitution but also of divine inspiration. Our choice of committee members should be based on competence, credibility, and spiritual maturity. We need spirit-filled men in our time.
Today, we are faced with the blows of undue ethnicity, tribalism, nationality, and racism. We ask that the Holy Spirit may hover over our minds and hearts so that we may gain transformation of heart, respect justice and rights, and work towards community-building and peace-making among Christians.
In the gospel, we are encouraged to have faith, trust in God’s timing, recognize his presence in our lives, step out in courage, and rely on the power of prayer.
Let us pray
Set aside, O Lord, the bond of sentence written for us by the law of sin, which in the Paschal Mystery you cancelled through the Resurrection of Christ your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever? Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
