Lessons to Learn

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Friday of 2nd Week of Easter, Year B, April 16th, 2021
Texts: Acts 5:34-42; Ps. 27:1.4.13-14; John 6:1-15

Today's Readings have some lessons for us. The first reading calls us to take experience and history seriously; God do speak to us through history and our experiences. Gamaliel was a student of experience and history; he allowed himself not to be ruled by emotion and sense of guilt but allowed his experience and history to guide him. He says, "Men of Israel, take care what you do with these men. For before these days Theudas arose, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was slain and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” Gamaliel shows that history is full of lessons for man. Therefore, let us allow experience to teach us; let us allow history to guide us.
The reading also reminds us that truth endures while falsehood fails. No matter how long falsehood reigns, it will come to light one day; it will definitely show its true colour one day. On the other hand, no matter what we do to suppress the truth or good, it can only be for a while; truth or good cannot be suppressed forever. Gamaliel was aware of this principle and so advised the council to leave the apostles alone. He says, "So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” This tells us that lie does not pay. Let us continue saying the truth and doing good. When we fight the truth, we fight God, for He is the truth. Truth is always self evident and imposing.
The reading also shows that everyone of us has capacity to make a difference wherever we find ourselves. There are some people that have revolutionised the world through their innovation. Among this group of people Jesus Christ is number one. Abraham Lincoln who ended slavery is an example of such group of people. We have Albert Einstein who revolutionised the world through his scientific discovery: his quantum theory gave birth to television and movie. We cannot also talk less of Mahatma Gandhi, the advocate of nonviolent revolution. The list of such people can be endless. Today, we are presented with Gamaliel whose contribution won the hearts of the council members and saved the apostles; his contribution made a significant difference. In the gospel, the lad made a difference: he gave his five barley loaves and two fish to Jesus for the whole group of people. God has given each of us talent through which we are to make difference wherever we find ourselves. When we put our talents and gifts into use we will make difference. We are to make use of our talents and gifts positively so that we can make positive difference in our environment. If you know how to sing, sing songs that are edifying and inspire people. If you are into business, do it and ease the burden of the people by bringing close to them their needs. A farmer makes a difference; a teacher makes a difference; everyone makes a difference.
We also learn today that God has a way of saving His people. He raised Gamaliel to save the apostles in the first reading; He saved the people from hunger in the gospel reading. This teaches us that if we seek God first, He will satisfy our needs. God knows our needs before we ask Him. For the reason best known to Him, He may not prevent us from entering into danger, but He knows how to save us from the danger; He knows how to satisfy our needs.
Today's gospel reading teaches us that the quantity of what we have does not count before God, it is His blessing that counts. God knows how to make our little effort has great effect and yields bountiful fruits. God's blessing multiplies our little resources to be more than enough. The diseases that can make us not to understand and enjoy this are greed and lack of contentment. Therefore, we have to be contented and also kill the greed in us so that we can enjoy the goodness of God.

Lord our God, we thank You for the various ways You have instructed us, helped us to heed Your instructions. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke