GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 26TH APRIL 2017
WEDNESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER
FIRST READING: Acts 5:17-26
PSALM: Psalm 34:2-9
GOSPEL: John 3:16-21
THEME: OPEN THE PRISON DOORS
There are people who are languishing in prisons in some countries because they dared to stand up for Christ in a hostile environment. There are, however, many more people who are in jails that are not made of cement and iron but of ignorance, fear and shame.
Some have believed in the lie that says that we no longer need to go out and evangelise. They appear to be ignorant of the fact that “the Church exists in order to evangelize” (cf. Evangelii Nuntiandi , No. 14). For example, I once heard someone saying, “In my church, we do not go in search of people; people come in search of us.” Meanwhile, the church he was referring to had become half empty over the years and yet he was not seeing the problem. Another person also lamented, “I really want to get involved in evangelization but I fear I may lose friends if I go all out for Christ.” For others too, the response is couched in three words, “I feel shy.” These are some of the jails that some Christians of the 21st century have locked themselves in.
In our First Reading, we have an account of the imprisonment and subsequent deliverance of the apostles. In this instance, it was not the apostles who imprisoned themselves; they were put in a public jail by the high priest and the Sadducees who had become jealous of them. However, something happened at night – “An angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, ‘Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life’ ” (Acts 5:19-20).
The Gospel cannot be chained. It cannot be hidden in the dark. It is meant to be preached in season and out of season. Everyone must hear the message of salvation: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16).
The angel of the Lord who opened the prison doors and told the apostles to go and preach is also unlocking the prison doors of believers in our generation too. Fear is giving way to boldness and there is a growing number of men and women in our Christian communities who are waking up from their slumber and buckling their shoes to go out there to tell others about Christ. How long would you also remain in your prison? The Lord has opened the door; now it is your turn to walk out and tell others about the new life we have in Christ.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, fill your Church with power and grace to tell the story of salvation anew. May your Spirit move us to tell it with ‘new ardour, methods and expression’ so that your Kingdom may be established firmly on earth and in the hearts of all people. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).