Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday of the Octave of Easter, Year B, April 5th, 2021
Texts: Acts 2:14.22-33; Ps. 16:1-2.5-11; Mtt. 28:8-15
Today's first reading reminds us that God has plan for everyone of us. The actualization of God's plan for us consists in accepting our lot as we do the will of God. In the reading, Peter says, "this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men." God allowed the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ because of the purpose of showing his victory over suffering and death. The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is a victory over suffering and death. It reminds us that God never abandons His own to suffering and death. It encourages us to cling to God in time of persecution, trials and adversity, giving us hope that our redeemer is close at hand; he will not abandon us to persecution, trials and adversity. In the case of Jesus Christ, Peter says, "But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it." When we persist in doing the will of God, no matter the persecution, insults, trials and adversity, it will be impossible for suffering and death to hold us captive.
Peter also tells us that the events that happened in the life of Jesus Christ was according to the foreknowledge of God. God is not ignorant of what happens in human life, in the life of everyone of us. What He requires of us is to continue to do His will that His power and glory may manifest in us. Resurrection is the manifestation of God's power and glory in the life of Jesus Christ.
Peter goes further to remind us that the resurrection was revealed beforehand. He says, “Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption." This confirms the words of prophet Amos: "The Sovereign LORD never does anything without revealing his plan to his servants, the prophets" (3:7). This teaches us that God never leave us in darkness as to His plan for us. If we are conversant with His words, we will know His plan for us; if we listen to Him, we will know His will for us; if we pray well, we will know His plan for us.
Today's gospel reading reminds us that witnessing the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is a call to be witness to the resurrection, to call others to meet Jesus and see Him. "Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.'"
The gospel reading also goes further to tell us the effort of the chief priests and the elders to sabotage the resurrection of our Lord JesusChrist. It is said, "While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sum of money to the soldiers and said, 'Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep and if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.'” However, the news of resurrection survive their sabotage. This tells us that, though man may rise against us, the will of God for us will always prevail.
Lord our God, we know that you have good plan for us, future that is full of hope, grant that we may always do your will that we may fulfill your plan for us. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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