Reflection for 10 May 2026: Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year A)
“There was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:8).
Dear Marian Helpers and Members of our Marian Family,
The Marians of the Immaculate Conception in the United States have a busy and exciting weekend. On 8 May, we will have three men ordained to the diaconate, and the following day, 9 May, Patrick Lynch, MIC will be ordained as a priest. Brother Patrick and I entered the community together, and it’s a particularly exciting day for me, to see my novice brother finally finish his time of formation.
Read all about the upcoming ordinations here.
Our readings this Sunday remind us of the power of the Spirit, a power that all of us have received in our Baptism and Confirmation. The Spirit of God lives within us and enables us to preach powerfully in word and deed. It’s not just priests and deacons who are filled with the power of God (although they are and in unique ways); all of us, lay and ordained alike, are tasked with spreading the Kingdom of God in this world.
How do we do this? As St. Peter says, we do it through our lives, our kind words, our loving deeds, and our joyful, peaceful, and helpful demeanours. If we are filled with negativity, a doom-and-gloom attitude or always being spiteful towards others (or ourselves), we’re not doing a very good job of attracting others to Christianity. As St. Teresa of Avila once said, “God save us from dour Christians!”
Instead, we must speak and act in ways that give glory to God, bring honour to the Church, and reflect well on our own lives of faith and prayer. Our world is full of darkness and despair. If we can be lights in that darkness, even small ones, then we will bring others to Christ, the true Light, whose light and Spirit we find in our hearts.
The Holy Spirit enables us to live Christian lives of joy and love. By the power of His help, we live the commands of Christ and grow in holiness and grace. By the power of His love, we learn how to love God, others, and even ourselves. By the power of His strength, we boldly and joyfully proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, the message of God’s mercy to the world.
This week pray to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to always stir within your heart the flame of faith. May He always be with you and guide you and may we all be prompt in following the movements He places within our hearts.
Please pray for Dcn. Ruben Veloz, MIC, Dcn. Christopher Orante, MIC, and Dcn. Ryan Asensio, MIC, and for our newest priest, Fr. Patrick Lynch, MIC. Hopefully, Fr. Patrick will be joining us here at the Divine Mercy Apostolate soon!
May God bless you now and always!
Fr Alex Pumphrey, MIC
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Contact Father Alex at info@divinemercy.org.uk
Please send us your prayer intentions! (click here). We will place them at the foot of our altar in the Divine Mercy Apostolate’s Chapel here in West Ealing, London and will remember them in our daily Chaplets of Divine Mercy.
