DATE : 7/4/2021
EVENT : Wednesday of the Octave of Easter
COLOUR: White
READINGS : Acts 3:1-10;
Resp. Psalm 104:1-4,6-9; Luke 24:13-35.
THEME: DON'T WAIT FOR A SPIRITUAL ENCOUNTER TO CONVINCE YOU
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this seventh day of April, which is the third day of the Octave of Easter, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Don't Wait For A Spiritual Encounter To Convince You". Beloved in Christ, often times, many of us, unknowingly think and act like the Biblical doubting Thomas, although we may want to deny it. For some of us who have accepted the truth about the Christian doctrine, we sometimes, nurse the intention to have a personal encounter with God in order to concretise our faith. This is very evident in some of the prayer points we often make: Lord reveal yourself to me; Lord, prove to my enemies that you are God; etc. Although, God has had recourse to reveal himself to certain people, he does not necessarily have to reveal himself to everyone. He choses whom and how to reveal himself. Thus, even the Bible did not tell us that Christ appeared to each of the disciples or those that believed in him whilst he was alive. He carefully chose those he wanted to appear to, just like he did to Cleopas and his companion in the Gospel reading of today. And he did this in order to communicate a certain message.
Beloved, one of the things that is common with the four Gospels (Matt. Mark, Luke and John), is that they all testified to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but the narrative of each, differs from the other. Matthew and John, kind of concentrated on the activities of the women, who loved Jesus, and were always going to anoint his body, before they met an empty stone. Mark, is a bit scanty, he does not dwell much on the details of the resurrection neither did he record the many appearances of Jesus to his disciples. Luke however, gave a summary account of the resurrection, and went on to focus on the appearances of Jesus to his disciples, especially to the two people on their way to Emmaus, having lost hope in the ministry of Jesus. Beloved in Christ, Jesus appeared to the two disciples on their way to Emmaus because he knew that like many of us, they did not completely believe the testimonies of the women and some of the apostles who also confirmed that truly, Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. They classified it as mere rumors and so, it didn't sink well with them. So, they decided to return to Emmaus their country, inorder to pick up their abandoned trades. I can only imagine how disappointed they must have been. In their own case, only a spiritual experience can convince and call back them to repentance.
Child of God, what is your faith level Like? Are you completely convinced that Jesus Christ is lord, that he is risen, that he is incharge of every event in the world? Are you convinced by the preaching of the priest or do you take them as mere speeches without substance? Are you seeking for a spiritual encounter inorder to solidify your believe in the power of God? Are you able to allow the word of God to burn in your heart and call you to quick action or are you waiting till you experience Christ in the Eucharist (Breaking of the Bread), before you will act on the word of God? See ba!!! Your faith will not be pleasing to God if you hinge it on any material experience of him. God appreciate a blind and crude faith, and wants you to trust and believe in him even if what you hear does not appeal to your rational mind. Thus, although faith and reason are not opposed, reason which is a handmaid of faith, should never be prized above faith. Because sometimes, the ways of faith are incomprehensible to the human mind.
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).
LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, Increase my faith in you, and never allow my faith to grow cold
The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.
May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ....Amen
@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪
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