💖 HOMILY - APRIL 4 💖

First Reading - Acts 3:11-26

Gospel - Luke 24:35-48

We must have come across people with big 'I' with their every achievement; I have done it - It's all because of me - I only can do it. The attitude of 'I' cancels out the realization of God's intervention in our lives. The readings of today invite us to give due acknowledgement to God for using us for many good works.

The first reading is the continuation of narration of the healing of the lame by Peter. The healing of the lame by Peter brings great astonishment to the people. Peter picks this opportunity to attest the miraculous sign performed to the name of Jesus. The attribution of the healing to the name of Jesus is meant to demonstrate that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah as the prophets and even Moses spoke about him. However, Peter does not accuse the people for getting Jesus crucified but acknowledges their failure to recognise him. Therefore, Peter encourages them to acknowledge their failures and repent for their sins.

The attribution of the miracle to Jesus by Peter reminds us that God uses us for many good works and we need to acknowledge God's hand for those works rather than reserve the credit to oneself.

The episode in the gospel is the continuation of the Emmaus experience of the two disciples who return to Jerusalem with the confirmation of the message of the resurrection of Jesus. The reporting of the resurrection of Jesus by the two and others is confirmed by the personal presence of Jesus to his disciples. Jesus proves it by eating a piece of grilled fish as an evidence of bodily resurrection and not mere spiritual resurrection. Jesus further cites the scriptures to show that it was the plan of God that he should suffer and rise on the third day. Jesus attributes his sufferings and resurrection to the will of God, so that all people may receive forgiveness of their sins.

Dear friends, God uses our events, our gifts, talents, and even us to manifest his glory. In the case of Peter as narrated in the first reading, God used him as an instrument to perform a great sign of healing the lame and Peter acknowledged that openly. He attributed the miracle to Jesus, the risen Lord. In the case of Jesus in the gospel, he attributes every event of his passion, death, and resurrection as the forewarned events in order to manifest God's love and mercy to the humanity so that all people may receive forgiveness of their sins. God continues to use us, our talents, and our events to reveal His glory, do we attribute them to God? We may have a tendency to attribute every good work to our credit forgetting God's mercy. Let's never forget to move from 'I have done it or I made it' attitude to 'God has done it through me' attitude. 

Let's pray that we may be able to acknowledge God's works in our lives in thankfulness and gratitude.