PRAYER: “O GOD, WHO GLADDEN US YEAR BY YEAR WITH THE SOLEMNITY OF THE LORD’S RESURRECTION, GRACIOUSLY GRANT THAT, BY CELEBRATING THESE PRESENT FESTIVITIES, WE MAY MERIT THROUGH THEM TO REACH ETERNAL JOYS. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Acts 3:1-10; Ps 104:1-4,6-9 and Lk 24:13-35.
The two scripture passages we reflect on today describe two types of lameness that have been miraculously cured: one by Jesus Himself and the other by Peter and John using the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene. One of the lamenesses, the incident in Acts 3:1-10, is physical. The man was crippled right from birth and he was always carried to the gate to beg for silver and gold. The other lameness is in the passage of Luke’s gospel (24:13-35). This is about the two disappointed and disturbed disciples who were on their way back from Jerusalem to Emmaus, after the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. They were so confused. and in a sense, they were crippled because their hopes had dampened as they initially thought Jesus was their Saviour and Messiah. Now he has been crucified and buried in a tomb. Spiritually they were crippled.
While one lameness (physical) could be caused by nature and circumstances, the other type (spiritual) is caused by unbelief, little faith or doubt. The Risen Lord can cure both types of lameness either directly or indirectly, that is, through those who represent him in the world.
The physically lame/crippled man received several coins, or silver and gold at the gate every day, yet he continued to be in his state of lameness. The money could not help or cure him. This confirms a few injunctions of Jesus that: “Human beings live not on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4). Indeed, the Word of God, who became flesh in Jesus, the Son of God, is a great source of life and healing. The Word of God nourishes and satisfies hungry souls. Also, “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Mt 16:26). We can spend all our lives running after the whole world and what it contains but how will this profit us if one day we die and leave all that in the world? Life is not all about money, silver, gold, or material things.
Indeed, what the Risen Lord did at the end of his encounter with the two Emmaus’ disciples which eventually opened their eyes, increased their faith, dispelled confusion and sadness and made them missionaries was nothing but the celebration of the Eucharist. The Lord first broke the Word for them and then he broke the bread and gave it to them. Significantly, when we meaningfully and actively participate in the celebration of the Eucharist, our faith in the Lord will increase, our eyes will be opened to all cloudy situations in our lives, we will become happy and joyful and the Lord will always heal us from whatever is making us sick and lame. The benefits are far-reaching.
Let us not allow the quest for riches and materialism, as well as the worries and desires of this world, to cripple us or make us lame. Strong faith in the Risen Christ as well as obeying his word is able to help us get out of whatever is crippling us in this life. Believing in the name of the Risen Lord can give us whatever we want. Stay blessed by the Risen Lord.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, WEDNESDAY, ON THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: ‘THE RESURRECTION, THE ASCENSION, THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ASSUMPTION, AND THE CORONATION’. (WE PRAY FOR FAITH, HOPE, LOVE OF GOD, GRACE OF A HAPPY DEATH AND TRUST IN MARY’S INTERCESSION) “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: “WE PRAY, O LORD, THAT THE REVERENT RECEPTION OF THE SACRAMENT OF YOUR SON MAY CLEANSE US FROM OUR OLD WAYS AND TRANSFORM US INTO A NEW CREATION. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com
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