“WALK DAILY WITH JESUS”, 27/04/26, (Monday, 4th Week of Easter in Year A).

PRAYER: “O GOD, LIGHT OF THE BLESSED, BY WHOM GIFT WE CELEBRATE THE PASCHAL MYSTERIES ON EARTH, BRING US, WE PRAY, TO REJOICE IN THE FULL MEASURE OF YOUR GRACE FOR AGES UNENDING. 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 11:1-18; Ps 41:2-3; 42:3-4 and Jn 10:11-18.

Today's first reading is about Peter explaining a wondrous vision he receives in the city of Joppa. In this vision, Peter witnesses the Holy Spirit descending on a household of uncircumcised believers (Cornelius’ household). This vision makes it clear to Peter that everybody is welcome to the Church. At the end of Peter’s explanation, all who hear this rejoice at God’s mercy. The second passage is from the Gospel of John, 10:11-18. This passage is about the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. Jesus, indeed, is the good shepherd, the good leader. He has the power to lay down his life and again has the power to take it up.

Scriptures have either directly or indirectly dealt extensively with discrimination or partiality, making it clear that it is sinful and ungodly. The passage from the Acts of the Apostles we reflect on is one clear example. God, indeed, does not show partiality or discriminate. “God has no favourites, but…anybody of any nationality who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34-35). James 2:1-13 also talks about the different treatment given to a well-dressed man on the one hand and a poorly-dressed man on the other hand. The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Cf. Lk 10:29-37) is in a way, another example of discrimination or partiality. 1Cor 11:20ff is another good example of an attitude of discrimination. We could go on and on but suffice it.

Discrimination or partiality could be classified among the grave sins and believers or Christians should have avoided that but most of us are deeply involved in it. As believers, we are the Lord’s sheep who should listen to and hear his voice and do whatever he tells us to do and avoid whatever he tells us not to do, especially discrimination. Discrimination is caused by many things including religion, politics, race, colour, language, tribe/clan, social class, prejudice and hearsay, among others. Discrimination makes people suffer; sometimes, innocent people even suffer the most. It retards development. It stifles people’s talents and gifts. Wrong people are put in places that they should not be and therefore they are not able to deliver results: ‘we put round pegs in square holes’. People are frustrated when they are discriminated against. Some people can even die, or have died because of that. Discrimination can easily lead to chaos in the community. Sadly enough, some believers or Christians are involved in this canker.

Our actions and tendencies of partiality or discrimination make us thieves or robbers, robbing and denying people of their blessings and their due. As followers or believers of Jesus Christ, we should be and behave as Good Shepherds in the world and not thieves or robbers. Robbery cuts across all spheres of human life and activities. Religious, political and civil leaders as well as their followers rob here and there, swallowing what is not our due, leaving the people poorer and poorer. Why are most modern-day pastors charging their members all sorts of fees: gate fee, consultation fee, appreciation fee, counselling fee, fee for blessing and exorcism, membership fee, etc? What about the ten per cent (10%) from contracts that are awarded to contractors? What can we say about contractors spending huge sums of their mobilisation fee to buy flashy cars? The stealing and pilfering going on in our public as well as private sectors and the ‘almighty’ bribery and corruption, where do we categorise that? A word to the wise is enough. May God have mercy on us all, and may we all endeavour to enter heaven through Jesus, who is the gate. Stay blessed and may your working week be fruitful.

WE MEDITATE TODAY, MONDAY, ON THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE ANNUNCIATION, THE VISITATION, THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE AND THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE’. (LET US PRAY FOR HUMILITY, LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR, POVERTY IN SPIRIT, OBEDIENCE AND JOY IN FINDING JESUS) “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: “LOOK WITH KINDNESS UPON YOUR PEOPLE, O LORD, AND GRANT, WE PRAY, THAT THOSE YOU WERE PLEASED TO RENEW BY ETERNAL MYSTERIES MAY ATTAIN IN THEIR FLESH THE INCORRUPTIBLE GLORY OF THE RESURRECTION. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.

Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com