PRAYER: “O GOD, WHO HAVE UNITED THE MANY NATIONS IN CONFESSING YOUR NAME, GRANT THAT THOSE REBORN IN THE FONT OF BAPTISM MAY BE ONE IN THE FAITH HEARTS AND THE HOMAGE OF THEIR DEEDS. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Acts 3:11-26; Ps 8:2ab,5,6-7,8-9 and Lk 24:35-48.
The two scripture passages we reflect on today are a continuation of what we meditated on yesterday. Acts 3:11-26 continues the story of the healing of the lame man at the ‘Beautiful Gate’. Peter turns his attention to the crowd, especially those who are responsible for the crucifixion of Christ. He courageously proclaims the Risen Lord to them, explaining to them that the lame man has been cured because of his faith in the name of Jesus Christ. Peter charges them that they acted in ignorance by handing Jesus over to be crucified and he calls them to repent and convert so that their sins may be wiped away. In the passage from the Gospel of Luke (24:35-48), after the two disciples from Emmaus recount to the rest all that took place along the way to Emmaus, Jesus appears to all of them and gives them peace. While they think he is a ghost, the Lord shows them his hands and feet, and eats some baked fish in front of them to prove to them that he is the one and not a ghost. He also opens their minds to the scriptures.
Many things can hinder our faith in the Risen Lord, thereby making us ineffective witnesses. Disappointments in life, frustrations, difficult times and moments in life, etc. sometimes make us doubt God and when we are in doubt, we are not able to play our role as witnesses to the Lord. This was what the disciples were going through. However, the Lord appeared to them and gave them courage. When we are courageous, we can find a way out in our disappointments, frustrations and difficult times. Peter displayed the same courage in proclaiming Jesus to the world.
Ignorance can also hinder our belief in God thereby rendering us ineffective witnesses. In our ignorance, Satan through the world and fellow human beings can take us away from God, from his ways and from doing the Will of God. This happened to the people. Out of ignorance the Jews through their leaders denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to them. However, ignorance is not an excuse for the law. Therefore, the people in their ignorance erred and so they needed to repent and be converted so that their sins might be wiped away. We pray for ourselves that our ignorance may not lead us to the sin of unbelief (another type of lameness) but that the Holy Spirit may always inspire and enlighten us to believe, to know Christ and be his true and courageous witnesses.
Finally, pride and arrogance can hinder our belief in the Risen Christ. Humility, which Jesus displayed in the world (Cf. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 2:5-11) can help us trust, believe and depend on the Risen Lord. It also helps us to be genuine witnesses to him. Peter is humble enough to explain to the crowd that it is not by their power and piety that the crippled man is cured and has now been able to walk. Peter humbly acknowledges that the man can walk because of faith in the name of Jesus. Know that in our humility, the Lord can do a lot of mighty and great things through us. May we be humble witnesses to the Lord. Even if we can perform wonders and miracles, we should not accord it to ourselves but to God. Stay blessed by the Lord of humility.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, THURSDAY, ON THE MYSTERIES OF LIGHT: ‘THE BAPTISM OF JESUS, THE WEDDING AT CANA, THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM, THE TRANSFIGURATION, AND THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST’. (WE PRAY FOR OPENNESS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, PRAY TO JESUS THROUGH MARY, FOR REPENTANCE AND TRUST IN GOD, THE DESIRE FOR HOLINESS, AND WE PRAY FOR THE SPIRIT OF ADORATION) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “HEAR, O LORD, OUR PRAYERS, THAT THIS MOST HOLY EXCHANGE, BY WHICH YOU HAVE REDEEMED US, MAY BRING YOUR HELP IN THIS PRESENT LIFE AND ENSURE FOR US ETERNAL GLADNESS. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.
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