PRAYER: “AS WE RECALL YEAR BY YEAR THE MYSTERIES BY WHICH, THROUGH THE RESTORATION OF ITS ORIGINAL DIGNITY, HUMAN NATURE HAS RECEIVED THE HOPE OF RISING AGAIN, WE EARNESTLY BESEECH YOUR MERCY, LORD, THAT WHAT WE CELEBRATE IN FAITH WE MAY POSSESS IN UNENDING LOVE. 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 5:17-26; Ps 33:2-9 and Jn 3:16-21.
One example from the Acts of the Apostles (5:17-26) specifies that the Sadducees were “filled with jealousy,” and therefore they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. However, during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the apostles' eyes, and they were found preaching to people in the temple area during the day. The second text is from the Gospel of John (3:16-21). This portion continues Jesus’ encounter and discourse with Nicodemus, the Jewish teacher of the Law. Jesus told Nicodemus that God sent his Son not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in the Son of God will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe, has already been condemned. Those who do not believe in the Son are people of darkness and their works are evil and wicked. The Son of God is Light and those who believe in him are people of light whose works should be good and they should not be wicked.
A renowned Nigerian musician once played a song entitled: “JEALOUSY”. The song has it that jealousy is the root of all evil. Jealousy indeed is the root cause of most (if not all) of the evil things we do in the world. Most of the wicked things we do in the world are caused by jealousy and of course envy. Jealousy with envy leads to hateful feelings, resentment and what have you.
Jealousy was the portion and lot of the Sadducees. They saw the apostles, uneducated poor fishermen who were performing wonders and miracles, which they, as educated and well-to-do religious leaders of the Jews had never performed. This made them develop hateful feelings toward the apostles. They tried in diverse ways to put a stop to the work of the apostles so that they would no longer have people following them for more wonders and miracles. They put them into prison but the angel of the Lord delivered them. The action of the Sadducees revealed that they were people of darkness. They first of all did not believe in and eventually condemned the Son of God and as if that was not enough, they pursued the apostles to disbelieve what they preached and tried to condemn them as well, thinking they could put an end to God’s redemptive work toward fallen humanity.
We should note that no human effort, especially all our evil efforts and intentions, as well as our wicked deeds to put a stop to God’s handiwork and his plans in the world through fellow human beings, will ever come to fruition. This is made evident in the passage of the Acts of the Apostles that we reflect on. It does not pay to be envious. It is also sinful to be envious. Those of us who are deep inside envy and jealousy should come out from that, and humbly come to the Lord to deliver and save us. Lord, have mercy on us all. Amen. Stay blessed.
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: “GRACIOUSLY BE PRESENT TO YOUR PEOPLE, WE PRAY, O LORD, AND LEAD THOSE YOU HAVE IMBUED WITH HEAVENLY MYSTERIES TO PASS FROM FORMER WAYS TO NEWNESS OF LIFE. 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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