4 June, Saturday — Our Lord Jesus Christ is God and His actions are immeasurable

Saturday of the 7^th Week of Eastertide

Acts 28:16-20,30-31
Jn 21:20-25

There are many things that Jesus did; if all were written down, the world itself, I suppose, would not hold all the books that would have to be written.

The Ten Commandments in the bible contain the summary of human laws — commandments meant to keep this world in place, in true form, realities, and expectations. When we expand the realities in the Ten Commandments, the entire world’s laws are expected to take reference from them. This is the extent we must place the content of our Holy Book — the Bible. We have seen that the contention in some quarters is that everything must be in the bible to gain acceptance; this may be seen as a calculation based on restrictions placed on God’s invincibility. Must we know everything about God? It is certain there is no comprehensive recorded account of all that Our Lord Jesus did from his childhood to his crucifixion and to his ascension into heaven. This understanding is premised on the theme of this reflection: ….” the world itself, I think, would not be able to contain the books that should be written.” 

In 2014, during our pilgrimages to Rome and Jerusalem, there was a troubling position and contention among members of the Christian Association of Nigeria [CAN] concerning the mode and process of having prayers in the morning before leaving for our visits to the Christian historical sites in Rome. The Pentecostal pilgrims proposed a joint prayer session for all pilgrims every morning, saying that joint prayer was the only common thing more important than anything else. The Catholics pilgrims on their side agreed that prayer was good, but insisted they would rather have the Mass before starting off for the day’s visits; the leader of the Catholic pilgrims, Rev. Fr. Stephen Okafor, Capt [Rtd] explained that the Mass is both sacrifice and Eucharist; it represents and provides the presence of the same and only sacrifice of the cross, it is a memorial that applies its fruit on humanity. And in the Eucharistic prayer during every Mass, the Church commemorates Jesus Christ, revealing his redeeming works and sacrifice for human salvation. In the end, it was resolved that the Catholic pilgrims were to have the Mass early, and the general Christian congressional prayers to take place later.

The above are realities revealed through the Church because Our Lord Jesus Christ is God and continues to reveal Himself through His Church; and the world would not be able to contain the books that would contain His words and deeds. He lives and continues to reveal himself — this is the position of the Church.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Julius Otusorochukwu Dike, KSJI, KSG, JP)

Prayer: Lord, Our Father, continue to help us in understanding your revelations, because they are living testimonies that guide us to gain salvation. We trust in your revelations through the Church. Continue to grant us the wisdom that guarantees our essence in you. Amen.

Thanksgiving: Dear Lord, Our Father, we thank you for helping us to understand your words and deeds; they have enriched us with the knowledge of your works and revelations. We thank you for the Church you are using to bring your teachings to us; continue to guide the Church and our spiritual fathers. We thank you for our achievements in life and rest in you. Amen.