Reflection on Today’s Readings, Saturday of 7th Week of Easter, June 4th, 2022
Texts: Acts 28:16-20.30-31; Psalms 11:4.5.7; John 21:20-25
Paul was such a man with a loving and kind heart. Despite the persecution he faced from his people he was still kind to them; He could not forget that they were his people. In the face of persecution, he had no time to bear grudges, entertain bitterness or making up allegation or accusation against his people. This is clear in his defence when he said, “though I had no charge to bring against my nation.” He was not like us who malign, slander, accuse and destroy the characters of the other person because they are not on our side. We accuse the other person even when we are guilty of the allegation against us. Sometimes we bear grudges and entertain bitterness over little issues. Paul teaches us to be kind with those who persecute us even for no reason; we do not need to destroy them but simply make the truth clear.
Why was Paul persecuted? It was because of the hope of Israel. He said to the people, “For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” The persecution of Paul was just like paying him evil for good. This tells us to be careful in persecuting the other person, for he/she might mean well. It is possible to persecute those who mean well for us. This reminds us the fate of leaders. Leaders are often objects of persecution for working for the good of the people. Many a time we persecute leaders who mean well for us. They are some things they do that have immediate and short term negative consequences but have future and long term good. Let us be careful in persecuting those who are leading us.
Today’s gospel reading reminds us that they are some things that should not bother us but which we have made objects of concern. Peter was just given an assignment that should be his concern but he rather concerned himself with the affair of another person. It is said, “ Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?’ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about this man?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!’” Let us stop looking into affair that does not concern us.
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we who have celebrated the paschal festivities may by your gift hold fast to them in the way that we live our lives. Amen
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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