GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 27TH APRIL 2017
THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER
FIRST READING: Acts 5:27-33
PSALM: Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-20
GOSPEL: John 3:31-36
THEME: FLY FOR CHRIST
An aeroplane parked at an airport apron is safe but that is not the purpose for which it was manufactured. It was built to fly and not to sit perpetually at the airport. In a similar vein, we are destined, in Christ, to step out and witness and not to park ourselves in a little corner, unconcerned about the call to mission. Of course, just as an aeroplane in the air has dangers to contend with, stepping out to live a life of witnessing comes with dangers but it is worth it.
In our First Reading, we have an account of the apostles running into trouble with the Jewish Sanhedrin because they chose not to sit quiet in their comfort zones. They took the call to proclaim the Gospel seriously and the leaders of the Jewish community were not happy about that. The high priest said, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us” (Acts 5:28). In response, Peter and the apostles said, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29) . Their response was a declaration of purpose. In sum, they were saying: we have been made to obey God and unfortunately we cannot go contrary to our new nature in Christ.
When we too were baptized, we became a ‘new creation’. We were ‘manufactured’ as witnesses of a new life in Christ to the world. On the day of our baptism, a lighted candle was symbolically placed in ours hands and we were told to keep it burning brightly. Unfortunately, some of us have chosen to park our ‘aeroplanes’, not wanting to fly for Christ. We take delight in watching other planes fly but are unprepared to move into action ourselves.
Like the apostles and the early Christians, we have all been called to “Go” and not to “Sit”. May we be filled with enough fuel from the Holy Spirit, step out in faith and fly for Christ.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you do not ration the gift of your Spirit to those who have faith in you. Fill us anew with the power of your Spirit and send us forth to witness. 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).