20180405
MIRACLES ARE SIGNS FOR A GREATER CALL TO FAITH
IN CHRIST
05 APRIL, 2018, Easter Thursday
Readings
at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: White.
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First reading
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Acts 3:11-26 ©
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You killed the prince of life: God, however, raised him from the
dead
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Everyone came running towards Peter and John in great excitement,
to the Portico of Solomon, as it is called, where the man was still clinging to
Peter and John. When Peter saw the people he addressed them, ‘Why are you so
surprised at this? Why are you staring at us as though we had made this man
walk by our own power or holiness? You are Israelites, and it is the
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, who has glorified
his servant Jesus, the same Jesus you handed over and then disowned in
the presence of Pilate after Pilate had decided to release him. It was you who
accused the Holy One, the Just One, you who demanded the reprieve of a murderer
while you killed the prince of life. God, however, raised him from the dead,
and to that fact we are the witnesses; and it is the name of Jesus which,
through our faith in it, has brought back the strength of this man whom you see
here and who is well known to you. It is faith in that name that has restored
this man to health, as you can all see.
‘Now I know,
brothers, that neither you nor your leaders had any idea what you were really
doing; this was the way God carried out what he had foretold, when he said
through all his prophets that his Christ would suffer. Now you must repent and
turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, and so that the Lord may send
the time of comfort. Then he will send you the Christ he has predestined, that
is Jesus, whom heaven must keep till the universal restoration comes which God
proclaimed, speaking through his holy prophets. Moses, for example, said: The
Lord God will raise up a prophet like myself for you, from among your own
brothers; you must listen to whatever he tells you. The man who does
not listen to that prophet is to be cut off from the people. In fact, all the
prophets that have ever spoken, from Samuel onwards, have predicted these days.
‘You are the
heirs of the prophets, the heirs of the covenant God made with our ancestors
when he told Abraham: in your offspring all the families of the earth will be
blessed. It was for you in the first place that God raised up his servant and
sent him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.’
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm 8:2,5-9 ©
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How great is your name, O Lord our God, through
all the earth!
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
How great is your name, O Lord our God,
through all the earth!
What is man that you should keep him in mind,
mortal man that you care for him?
How great is your name, O Lord our God, through
all the earth!
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Yet you have made him little less than a god;
with glory and honour you crowned him,
gave him power over the works of your hand,
put all things under his feet.
How great is your name, O Lord our God, through
all the earth!
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
All of them, sheep and cattle,
yes, even the savage beasts,
birds of the air, and fish
that make their way through the waters.
How great is your name, O Lord our God, through
all the earth!
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
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Gospel Acclamation
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Ps117:24
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Alleluia, alleluia!
This day was made by the Lord:
we rejoice and are glad.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Luke 24:35-48 ©
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It is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day
rise from the dead
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The disciples told their story of what had happened on the road
and how they had recognised Jesus at the breaking of bread.
They were
still talking about all this when Jesus himself stood among them and said to
them, ‘Peace be with you!’ In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they
were seeing a ghost. But he said, ‘Why are you so agitated, and why are these
doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed.
Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see
I have.’ And as he said this he showed them his hands and feet. Their joy was
so great that they still could not believe it, and they stood there
dumbfounded; so he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ And they
offered him a piece of grilled fish, which he took and ate before their eyes.
Then he told
them, ‘This is what I meant when I said, while I was still with you, that
everything written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the
Psalms has to be fulfilled.’ He then opened their minds to understand the
scriptures, and he said to them, ‘So you see how it is written that the Christ
would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name,
repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations,
beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.’
MIRACLES ARE SIGNS FOR A GREATER CALL TO FAITH IN CHRIST
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ACTS 3:11-26; PS 8:2,5-9; LK 24:35-48 ]
Many are
focused on healings and miracles. These spectacular events grab our attention because they
are sensory and visible. As human beings with a body and spirit, we
certainly need to experience God through such tangible signs that we can see
and feel. This was what the apostles wrote, “We declare to you what was
from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what
we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life
– this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and
declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to
us.” (1 Jn 1:1-3)
But there is
also a danger that some of us are seeking one apparition after another, going
from one religious experience to another, always looking for another
high. When that happens, the miracles, whether of healing or otherwise,
fail to serve its purpose. Those who are always craving for such
experiences show their lack of faith in God and inability to go deeper into the
manifestation of God’s love and power. They are like Herod whom we read
was glad to see Jesus, “for he had been wanting to see him for a long time,
because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some
sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer.”
(Lk 23:8f)
God does not come to entertain us with spectacular shows. This also
explains why Jesus only healed the sick out of mercy and compassion; not to
display His might and power.
Those who are
always seeking for religious experiences show that there is a lack of a deeper
reflection on what God wants to teach them through the miracles. A clear sign that
such people have not grown in faith is when they continue to live a sinful life
after the religious experience. When such people show no change of
lifestyle in response to the gospel teaching, or when their relationship with
the Lord has not grown and deepened, it means that they have not been growing
in faith; otherwise one radical encounter should be sufficient for us to place
our faith in Him. To keep on asking for signs means that we lack trust in
Him and that is why we keep testing Him. What they should be seeking is
to understand deeper the implications of His message.
But more tragically,
such people are ignorant of a greater calling in life than simply having a
sentimental encounter with God or even receiving some physical and emotional
healing.
The truth is that our illnesses will come back at some time in our lives.
We cannot expect to be healthy until we die. Old age, infirmities and
pains are all God’s way of teaching us to let go of this life and seek for the
fullness of life that is to come. What is the greater call for each
one of us? The first letter of Peter says, “Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and
unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of
God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
(1 Pt 1:3-5)
There is an
even greater danger for those who themselves are instruments of the Lord to
touch people’s lives, whether through preaching, counselling, ministering or even
healing. Some of us may begin to think highly of ourselves when people
are healed or touched or moved by our message or good works. We ascribe
the success to ourselves and allow our achievements to get into our
heads. Such people are equally ignorant and fail to reflect why God uses
them for His glory. This was not the case of Peter and John. After
such a remarkable miracle, “Peter made it clear that it was Jesus, the prince
of life who healed him. He said, ‘Why are you so surprised at this? Why
are you staring at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or
holiness?’” It was not their work and they had no credit to claim
except to boast of the power of God working in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Instead of
focusing on the miracle, Peter focused on the source of healing, that is, the
person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the prophet that Moses
prophesied.
“Then he will send you the Christ he has predestined, that is Jesus, whom
heaven must keep till the universal restoration comes which God proclaimed,
speaking through his holy prophets. Moses, for example, said: ‘The Lord God
will raise up a prophet like myself for you, from among your own brothers; you
must listen to whatever he tells you. The man who does not listen to that
prophet is to be cut off from the people. In fact, all the prophets that have
ever spoken, from Samuel onwards, have predicted these days.’” The
obligation to believe and accept Jesus is the consequence of the healing
miracle.
Hence, Peter
invited the people to faith in Jesus. This is the purpose of the healing
that took place. It was God’s intention to inspire faith in His Son. He continued,
“It was you who accused the Holy One, the Just One, you who demanded the
reprieve of a murderer while you killed the prince of life. God, however,
raised him from the dead, and to that fact we are the witnesses; and it is the
name of Jesus which, through our faith in it, has brought back the strength of
this man whom you see here and who is well known to you. It is faith in that
name that has restored this man to health, as you can all see.” Without
any doubt, Peter and John knew that it was the Lord who healed through them.
Faith
therefore is a call to repentance and to turn to our Lord. Then, they were
ignorant and not guilty of the death of Jesus. But it would not be the
same for those who have come to know Him as Lord. Peter said, “Now I
know, brothers, that neither you nor your leaders had any idea what you were
really doing, this was the way God carried out what he had foretold, when he
said through all his prophets that Christ would suffer. Now you must repent and
turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, and so that the Lord may send
the time of comfort. Then he will send you the Christ he has predestined, that
is Jesus, whom heaven must keep till the universal restoration comes which God
proclaimed, speaking through his holy prophets.”
When we turn
to the Lord in faith, we will be overcome with joy because all fear is gone. The sighting of the
Risen Lord was certainly an immense and indescribable experience and joy for
the disciples. The Lord said to them, “’Peace be with you!’ In a state of
alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said, ‘Why are
you so agitated, and why are these doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my
hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost
has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.’ And as he said this he showed
them his hands and feet. Their joy was so great that they still could not
believe it, and they stood there dumbfounded.” Such was the joy and the
experience of freedom of being forgiven and empowered after encountering the
Risen Lord.
Again, the
Lord did not just show Himself to them and stopped there. According to Immanuel Kant,
“Perception without conception is blind, conception without perception is
empty.” So Jesus led them to a deeper understanding of the paschal
mystery and their higher calling in life. He explained to them, “’This is
what I meant when I said, while I was still with you, that everything written
about me, in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the Psalms, has to be
fulfilled.’ He then opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he
said to them, ‘So you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on
the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness
of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are
witnesses to this.’”
All miracles
in the final analysis are to help us to find faith in Jesus so that believing
in Him we might have life. This is what St John wrote at the end of his gospel.
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not
written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to
believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through
believing you may have life in his name.” (Jn 20:30f)
Following this discovery, we are called to be witnesses as the apostles did by
announcing to all, “How great is your name, O Lord our God, through all the
earth!”
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Singapore © All Rights Reserved
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