RECONCILED TO GOD

Readings: Wis 3:1-9; Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Rom 5:5-11; Jn 6:37-40

The presence of Jesus here on earth was an expression of God’s love for us (Jn 3:16). The love of God assumed unimaginable proportions with the death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus through his death conquered sin, death and the law. As a result of this, we have been redeemed and reconciled to God. Paul in his letter to the Romans affirms that we have been justified to God by grace, that is, our relationship and intimacy with God have been restored. Paul writes: We have been “justified by his grace as a gift, through redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24). Paul also enumerates three effects of justification. The first effect is that we live a life of peace with God (Rom 5:1). The second effect, is that we are confident about sharing the glory of God (Rom 5:2). The third effect is sharing in the risen life of Christ (5:10). Paul describes how God proved his love for us with the death of Jesus, who died while we were still sinners. As baptised Christians, we are justified, reconciled, and enjoy the hope of sharing the glory of God. This hope will never ever disappoint us because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Our hope is affirmed in the Book of Wisdom which states: “The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God” (Wis 3:10). This should comfort us when we are confronted with the fact of death. All those who have gone before us marked with the sign of peace are under the protective cover of God because his grace and mercy rests upon his holy ones. Death, in a very deep way, gives meaning to suffering, which is a testing from God. The cumulative effect of suffering makes our life like a sacrificial burnt offering acceptable to God. Thus, the experience of joy and suffering are the two dimensions of eternity and immortality. Therefore, suffering and death have a redemptive value. At the end of our earthly pilgrimage, we become sharers in the glory of God.

In his discourse about the Bread of Life, Jesus assures us that he is the nourishment of all human persons: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never by hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (Jn 6:36). Jesus promised to satisfy the primary needs of every human person: hunger and thirst. Yet, not all were prepared to accept Jesus as the Bread of Life. Nevertheless, Jesus was all embracing and inclusive. He claimed: “Anyone who comes to me I will never drive away” (Jn 6:37). Jesus also assures eternal life to those who come to him. He affirms: “All who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day” (Jn 6:40). We see a pattern in accepting Jesus into our lives: coming, seeing and believing. Coming to Jesus would mean accepting Jesus in faith as our Lord and Saviour, trusting in his life-giving words. Seeing Jesus signifies recognizing Jesus not only as the Sent-One of God but also identifying the image of Jesus in others, especially among the disadvantaged and the poor. Believing in Jesus is living out the path that he has charted out for us – the path of the cross. Eternal, therefore, life signifies eternal communion with the Father, through the Son and the Holy Spirit, here on earth as well as in heaven. Eternity is a gift to those who come to, see and believe in Jesus!

Prayer

Abba Father, may we experience eternal moments here on earth by appreciating and acknowledging your Resurrected Presence in others.

In Jesus name we pray!

EASTER DAILY REFLECTIONS

RESILIENT IN SPIRIT

Acts 16:1-10; Jn 15:18-21

The Spirit of God is once again directing the mission of the apostles according to the plan of God. Paul reached Derbe and Lystra and he found a disciple Timothy, who would accompany him in his missionary journey. Timothy’s mother was Jewish, a believer, and his father, Greek. It is very remarkable to note that Paul has Timothy circumcised. In Luke’s perception circumcision was part of the Jewish ethos as well as their ancestral commitment to God. Luke makes it clear to the readers that opening the door of freedom to the Gentiles is not closing the doors to the Jewish Christians. However, circumcision has a cultural value rather than a soteriological value. Besides, it should be observed that Paul’s commitment to the Gentile mission is not an abandonment of his commitment to Judaism.

The human efforts of Paul and Timothy is re-oriented by the Holy Spirit. They travelled to the Phrygian and Galatian territory because they have been prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia. Once again, the missionary pair wanted to go to Bithynia, but the Spirit of God directed them to Traos. Surrendering ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit would lead to surprises. Paul, like Peter, has a vision. For Paul, it is a Macedonian man requesting him to come and preach to them. This inaugurates the mission of Paul and his companion, Timothy, in Europe. A Spirit-guided mission always bears fruits and is full of new and unexpected turns.

Jesus had instructed the disciples on the fundamental significance of abiding in him (Jn 15:1-11). Abiding, which points to the oneness of the disciples with Jesus, is the cause for Peace, Joy and Fruitfulness. In the present context, Jesus speaks of hatred, rejection, persecution and death. Jesus is confronted by a hostile audience. They do not accept Jesus as the One sent by the Father, nor do they recognize the works of Jesus having its source in the Father. They hate, both, Jesus and the Father. Jesus taught his people the dynamics of relating with God, which they rejected (Jn 9:28-29). The hatred of the people intensified their determination to put Jesus to death (Jn 11:53).

We observe an intrinsic conflict between Jesus and the world. The world would hate and persecute the disciples because they belonged to Jesus and listened to his word. However, Jesus had chosen the disciples out of the world and warned them that they would meet the same fate like Jesus. The fundamental reason for hating and persecuting Jesus and his disciples is that the world has rejected the Father, who has sent Jesus into the world. It is crystal clear that anyone, who follows the path of Jesus, abides in him and makes the priorities of Jesus their personal priority would be persecuted by those who do not share the values of Jesus and his Gospel. Hence, in a hostile situation, we need to hold firm to the faith that Jesus is always with us. He is a model victim. He has experienced every form of imaginable torture and persecution. The experience of Jesus gives us a sense of hope and fills us with a spirit of resilience.

Prayer

Abba Father, when we are surrounded by hostility and victimized for reasons known and unknown, help us to hold on firmly to your gentle hands.

In Jesus’ Name we pray!

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