God in Jesus Christ

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, Thursday of 3rd Week of Easter, May 5th, 2022
Texts: Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 66:8-9.16- l 7.20; John 6:44-51
We are reminded that our salvation is the joint action of the Holy Trinity. Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Our relationship with Jesus Christ is the function of our relationship with the Father; we cannot have relationship with Jesus Christ without relationship with the Father. We have to love the Father and acknowledge Him for us to be on the path of salvation. What this also means is that we cannot come to Jesus Christ unless we see God in Him. Hence, He adds, “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.” If we see God in Him we will see the words of God fulfilling in Him. Manna as the food for life is fulfilled in Him. He says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die.” In Jesus Christ God is with us and we are taught by Him.  
Today’s first reading reminds us that we are to spread the message, the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. We are to enlighten the people and teach them about the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. In spreading the message we have to listen to the direction of the Holy Spirit. Philip, in today’s first reading, listened to the Holy Spirit and followed His direction. Just like Philip we are to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. We are also reminded that Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of the Scripture. It is said, “Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this: ‘As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth.’ ... Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news of Jesus.” This tells us that we know more about Jesus Christ by reading Scripture.   

May Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is still on. Let us pray our Rosary.  

Almighty ever-living God, let us feel your compassion more readily during these days when, by your gift, we have known it more fully, so that those you have freed from the darkness of error, may cling more firmly to the teachings of your truth. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke