Just Speak about the Risen Christ

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, Thursday of Easter Octave, April 21st, 2022

Texts: Acts 3 : 11-26; Psalm 8:2ab.5.6-7-9; Luke 24:35-48
We are to learn, today, from St. Peter who use the opportunity he had to speak about Jesus Christ. He gave honour to whom honour is due. He diverted attention from himself and focused it on Jesus Christ. He used the occasion of the healing of the lame man to speak about Jesus Christ. In today’s first reading, it is said, “While the lame man who had been cured clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s, astounded. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, ‘Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, .... And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all...’”  
Do we ever speak about Jesus Christ whenever God achieves great things through us? Many of us do boast in ourselves, our effort. Let us desist from such attitude and learn to speak about what God has achieved in our lives. Are you praised for your skill? Use the opportunity to tell them about God who has endowed you with the skill? Is it your talent or gift that draws people close to you? Use the opportunity to speak about God, the source of all good gifts. Are you known for your outstanding virtues? Use it to speak about God of all virtues. You could be a business man, use the opportunity to speak about the risen Christ. Whoever you are, use the opportunity to speak about the risen Christ. Whatever you achieve or draws people close to you, use the opportunity to speak about the risen Christ. Always speak about Him in deeds and when the time to speak about Him in words comes, do not hesitate to do so. Let the name of the risen lord be praised and blessed through you. It is neither by your power nor your piety do you possess those things. Some are even blessed with those things but they are not known or appreciated for them. Please, speak about the God who has done you such favour. Stop boasting in yourself, boast in God. St. Peter reminds us today that what could accord us such favour is our faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in the risen Christ has the potential to accomplish great things. Let us continue to exercise our faith in the risen Christ.
St. Peter invites us to see our sinful ways of life as lived in ignorance. He puts it thus: “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.” The passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ are testimony that the words of the Scripture are true. In the gospel, it is said about Jesus Christ thus: “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.’” Let us, therefore,  repent and believe, that our sins may be wiped away and be renewed by the Lord for His glory and honour of His name.   

O God, who wills that everyone may come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved, grant that we may use every opportunity we have to speak about You, the Truth. Amen.  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke