This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it. PS 117:24ACTS 3:1-10 ©
My Soul's Beloved,
The entire sequence of events recorded by the evangelist is a blueprint for all who are Your disciples and are called by Your Name. We have the love of the Father, the power of Your Name, and the breath of the Holy Spirit within us and the combination of the power of the Triune God within us is mightier than any other. 
Peter and John demonstrate the mighty power they possess when they command the man who was born a cripple to look at them and said that they did not have worldly treasures but they would give him what they had, the Name that is above every other Name - the Name at which demons tremble and obey and which is worshipped in heaven and on earth by those who believe. Peter said, 'In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!' took him by the hand and helped him stand, and immediately his feet were strengthened and he walked.
His joy was delirious. He went into the Temple walking, leaping, and praising God and all who saw him recognized him as the crippled man who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple and were astonished because they did not know what had happened to him.
What about us, Beloved? You have done so much for us from the moment of our conception yet only a few of us testify to Your goodness, Your mercy, and Your saving help that have transformed our lives. If only we opened our mouth just as that man at the Temple gate did, the whole world would come to believe through our testimony. We are not prepared to look ridiculous to the world like King David and this man who received God's healing through the power of Your Name. If only we did we would hasten the coming of Your Kingdom.
PSALM 105:1-4,6-9 ©
My Soul's Beloved,
My Soul's Beloved,
The psalmist urges us today to give thanks, to testify to the great deed that You have done, to open our mouth and give glory to God who is ever faithful to those who call on Him.
We are alive as long as we breathe. It is Your breath that keeps
us alive and sustains us - take it back and we die. This is sufficient reason to praise You always. And when we count Your blessings our hearts will sing for joy all day long.
All who know Your Name are blessed. We not only know it but we are called by Your Name. It is holy and has the power to strengthen all who call on You. Thank You for creating us in Your image and likeness so all who seek Your Face will find it imprinted on us and on our brothers and sisters.
We are the children of God, the children of Abraham, the children of the Covenant, the family of God because of the work of salvation that You wrought for us by Your passion, death, and resurrection.
You are the Covenant of Love that stands at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us night and day. You are the Promise that is fulfilled for a thousand generations. And You are our Brother, our Beloved, our Spouse, and our Friend. How truly blessed we are to know You, to love You, and to be called by Your Name.
LUKE 24:13-35 ©
My Soul's Beloved,
How often we walk away from You like two of Your disciples who were on their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus dejected, frustrated, forlorn because things did not turn out as they had expected. Thankfully, You understand our weaknesses, You understand how it is possible to drown in our own negativity and be blanketed by sadness that smothers faith and hope. These two disciples too were struggling with many emotions as they walked away from all that had recently taken place and believed that they had buried all their dreams, their hopes, and their expectations along with You.
Then suddenly You appear to catch up with them and begin to walk alongside them. You notice their woebegone expressions and ask them why they are sad. Cleopas is amazed he believes that everyone ought to have known the unspeakable things that had just occurred in Jerusalem. You inquire mildly, 'What things?' And he is only too happy to unburden himself and tell You everything and most especially his lost hopes and dreams.
He spoke of You as a great prophet, he recalled the wonderful miracles You performed by the power of God before the people. He recounted how those in authority were envious of You and handed You over to be sentenced to death. And with Your death by crucifixion, all their hopes of a free Israel free were extinguished.
That was not all, he said, what was more astounding was that Your Body had vanished from the tomb and that angels had announced to the women that You had risen from the dead. You were alive. The disciples had not seen You and so they did not believe the women's testimony.
You then respond by patiently opening their minds to understand how Scripture from the time of Moses spoke of You and how every prophecy concerning the Messiah was fulfilled in You. Once they drew near the village it seemed You were moving on and they pleaded with You to stay, You did, and as they sat at table with You and You took the bread, blessed it and broke it the veil from their eyes lifted and they recognized it You and You vanished from their sight. The outcome of their encounter with You was a total transformation of their lives. They went back to Jerusalem to share their story with the rest.
Thank You, Beloved, for the Holy Eucharist, and for the privilege of not only recognizing You but of eating You as well. We consume God and for a while You divinize us.
No comments:
Post a Comment