WEEK TWENTY TWO: LIFE IN THE RESURRECTION - DAY 4
MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Acts 3: 6-8: Cure of a Cripple and Peter's Discourse "Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, [rise and] walk." Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong. He leaped up, stood, and walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God." [Please read Acts 3: 1 - 4: 31 for a better appreciation of the passage].
Read the Reflection; ask for the grace to be glad and rejoice intensely because of the great joy and the glory of Christ our Lord (#221)
Peter and John are on their way to the temple to keep the 3:00 pm hour of prayer. A cripple asks them for alms. Peter engages in a life-changing conversation with the cripple: "I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, [rise and] walk." From now on, the man will no longer be lame; he will no longer have to beg. Spiritually he has been purified, forgiven, and accepted by Jesus in whose name he has been cured. And publicly, Peter proclaims his allegiance and commitment to Jesus as Savior and Lord because He has been raised from the dead! Immediately, the Sadducees take exception to this cure as they do not believe in the Resurrection. And because they make up a sizable percentage of the Sanhedrin, they have Peter and John, and the beggar arrested (Acts 4: 1-4). They are brought to trial before the Sanhedrin. The important question asked of Peter and John is by whose authority they are teaching religious doctrine. Obviously, their ministry has not been sanctioned by the Sanhedrin who are the ultimate religious authority. Peter then testifies and witnesses to Jesus. He makes it clear that his authority comes from Jesus who is God (Acts 4: 8-12). The cure of the lame beggar is evidence of their claim. The court warns the apostles to abandon their practice of ministering in the name of Jesus. Peter and John state categorically that they would rather obey Jesus than satisfy human objections. The court releases them, afraid to do otherwise, since the beggar, lame from birth and over forty years old, is a well-known figure in Jerusalem. And the facts of his cure are public knowledge.
"Feed My sheep", Peter has been transformed into the image and likeness of God. How? I pondered how many times Peter had entered the temple and the beggar was there, he may have looked but kept going to complete "his" task. Jesus in His infinite wisdom challenges Peter by asking him: Do you love Me? God gave Peter a brain, in his quiet times (prayer), he recollects all that he has been taught and learned with Jesus. The tapestry is coming together, his understanding is growing until faith is put into action. The same can be said of us, we can be the most holy pious people in doing the right thinks but where is the proof of the resurrection in your life? Peter realized he was called by God to feed His sheep, he begins to live a life of prayer.
What is God saying to you? You are called, you all are called. Live in the resurrection, without you, I can do nothing. Without Mary and Joesph? Feed My sheep.
Dear Father God, may my life be a prayer, may I see the normal everyday circumstance and respond in love with the power of Jesus in my heart. Help me respond to the call and not cower in fear by the fire but to be a vessel of the fire that encourages and builds Holy Church. Prayers for a return of the Sacramental of Holy Water as we enter the temple, we can no longer deny its graces. Prayers for a little one still developing their lungs. Prayers of thanksgiving for signs of hope in recovery. Bless this day God as we live a life of prayer. In Jesus name, Amen.
Mary, Queen of Peace, Pray for us.
St Joesph, Protector of Holy Church, Pray for us.
Viva Cristo Rey
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
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