18 April, Monday – Peter Stood Up…

Easter Monday

Acts 2:14,22-33
Mt 28:8-15

Filled with awe and great joy…

Today is an opportune time to reflect on what the apostles had done after the resurrection, to plant a seed in spreading the message of salvation to the world. Peter, who fearfully denied the Lord, pressed on to spread the good news even till death, and so did Paul. It is quite possible that when Peter addressed the Jews, he was fearful. Yet the dominant sense of mission motivated him to speak up.

Mary and Mary Magdelene were fearful, yet overjoyed after encountering the Risen Lord. Yet these two women, despite not having an equal voice and status in society, broke their culture norms to announce the good news to the disciples. If they have chosen not to tell anyone, the history of the Catholic faith would have been very different. Both Marys and all Jesus’ apostles are in fact in the same situation as each of us – having the same encounter with the risen Lord as we have.

Brothers and sisters, are we able to speak of Him to anyone and everyone without fear or favour? Are we true witnesses of our faith by boldly living the truth despite the pressures to conform to social norms? Do we still uphold the dignity of each person? Do we believe that God never wavers and that He meant it when he said, that man and woman constitute a perfect union and the anomalies that we are exposed to are going against God’s plan for us humans?

Are we able to see the malice of corruption as in today’s gospel? Besides being bold keyboard warriors, are we upholding our values by not offering any amount of bribe to anyone and under all circumstances? Are we invoking jealousy and envy by boasting about our financial blessings? Do we not realise that this can stir up unwarranted greed among our sisters and brothers by such actions?

How are we to do all that is right and avoid all that is not pleasing to our Father? How can we be bold enough to evangelise? For this, we ask our Father to keep us safe from evil, as He is our hope.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Josephine Dionisappu)

Prayer: Keep me safe O Lord, show me your ways and protect me from all that is not of you.

Thanksgiving: Lord, we thank you for our feelings of joy and fear, we will use it for your glory.