Remembrance of the Virgin Mary, venerated as Our Lady of Lujàn in Argentina.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

I am the good shepherd,
my sheep listen to my voice,
and they become
one flock and one fold.
.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Acts 8,26-40

The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, 'Set out at noon and go along the road that leads from Jerusalem down to Gaza, the desert road.' So he set off on his journey. Now an Ethiopian had been on pilgrimage to Jerusalem; he was a eunuch and an officer at the court of the kandake, or queen, of Ethiopia; he was her chief treasurer. He was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot he was reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit said to Philip, 'Go up and join that chariot.' When Philip ran up, he heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' He replied, 'How could I, unless I have someone to guide me?' So he urged Philip to get in and sit by his side. Now the passage of scripture he was reading was this: Like a lamb led to the slaughter-house, like a sheep dumb in front of its shearers, he never opens his mouth. In his humiliation fair judgement was denied him. Who will ever talk about his descendants, since his life on earth has been cut short? The eunuch addressed Philip and said, 'Tell me, is the prophet referring to himself or someone else?' Starting, therefore, with this text of scripture Philip proceeded to explain the good news of Jesus to him. Further along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'Look,is some water; is there anything to prevent my being baptised?' He ordered the chariot to stop, then Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water and he baptised him. But after they had come up out of the water again Philip was taken away by the Spirit of the Lord, and the eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Philip appeared in Azotus and continued his journey, proclaiming the good news in every town as far as Caesarea.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

I give you a new commandment,
that you love one another.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

On the southern part of the road to Gaza, a land that has been tragically violated with thousands of dead, many of whom children, with the destruction of the entire territory and the closure of all escape roads, a pilgrim is returning from Jerusalem to Ethiopia. A trusted advisor to Candace, queen of Ethiopia, is sitting in his chariot reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip, whom we already met in yesterday's reading, guided by the Holy Spirit, comes up to him and asks whether he understands what he is reading. The Ethiopian's reply is sincere: "How can I, unless someone guides me?" We need to pay attention to this reply, because it points to the ordinary path to reach faith. No one can give faith to him or herself, and no one can understand the Holy Scripture without the help of the community, without being, as Saint Augustine said, on the lap of the holy Mother Church. We all need someone who is at our side and allows us to understand the Gospel. Yes, each one of us must take someone on the chariot of his/her life to accompany us, to help us in understanding the Scriptures, that is, how the Word of God can be applied to our daily life. None of us is self-sufficient in faith. The Ethiopian accepted Philip's help and listened to him throughout the journey. At a certain moment, the Ethiopian stopped the chariot and asked for baptism. He understood the passage he was reading, not in an abstract way but in a personal and profound way, sensing that the prophet's words were directed to him. That is why he wanted to be baptised: what he had heard was also to be realised in his life. If we know how to stop the chariot of our life and let it help us "enter" the pages of the Gospel, we too will feel the strength to resume our journey with greater vigour and clarity.