The joy of the living Presence of God

THE JOY OF THE LIVING PRESENCE AND NAME OF JESUS: Acts 3:11-26, Lk. 24:35-48. After Peter and John healed the crippled man, the three of them went into the Temple. At the first sight of the crippled man, the people were amazed at the restoration. Peter explains that they should not be amazed for God promised complete restoration of the chosen people. Peter declares that Jesus fulfils all that the Jews had hoped, over many centuries: “All the prophets have announced the events of these days.” Through Jesus Christ, our hopes are sustained, trials overcome, laws and habits purified under the influence of God’s prompting Spirit. We in turn ought to become witnesses to this and our generation. In a spirit of reconciliation, Peter maintains that the people acted “out of ignorance.”

Out of ignorant of the Scriptures the disciples found it hard to accept message of Easter. As the two disciples from Emmaus finish speaking about their encounter with the Risen Lord, Jesus in today's Gospel appears to all the faithful gathered together on that first Easter Sunday evening. Clearly, it took the disciples a while to take in the good news of Easter. Jesus led the disciples through a gesture of friendship by sharing a meal with them to have concrete and tangible experience of the resurrection. The intense moment of fellowship strengthened their faith. We can also put ourselves in the place of the disciples and carry on this joyful message through our life and words. We are challenged to witness to Christ and show His face in the stranger on the street, voice of a colleague and in the embrace of our loved ones.

May the Lord come to us with His untiring strength, reveal in our lives the loving-kindness of God and end the conflicts which divide our world! Amen!! Good morning, peace be with you!!!

Revd Fr Samuel Frederick.