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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
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Today’s dramatic healing in the first reading takes place just outside the Temple at what was called the Beautiful Gate. We’re told it was named this because it was grand in size and ornate in design… something to behold, something fitting. But what took place just outside of it that we’ve just heard… brought a different kind of beauty…one that was wrought from the power of Jesus’ Name…one that was shared by Peter and John with that man begging for alms. The meaning of the Beautiful Gate changed…when a man born with a physical disability encountered Peter and John, who had faith in Jesus. If you think about it, the man whose life was changed forever, up until that day, had the same routine, which included being carried to the Temple gate to beg for alms to survive each day. And it must have worked; he must have received enough money or food from others to make it through the day, and then been carried home. That is, until he met two men who had something else to offer.
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From despair to Hope. Easter is about restoring hope. The news of Jesus’s resurrection brought hope to people who were overwhelmed by despair and grief. The disciples were wrapped in disappointment that all their hopes on Jesus as the Messiah had been dashed by his brutal death. It is possible that some were grappling with guilt of having abandoned Jesus and fleeing in fear. The gospel today, we have Mary Magdalene described as weeping. She was despondent that not only had Jesus died, but also the idea that his body had been taken to an unknown location and is not able to give a proper burial. It was to this kind of despair that, the fact of Jesus’ resurrection broke in with life-changing hope. Easter tells us that the risen Christ can break into our lives with genuine hope amid our worst trials.
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Brief and contemporary inspiration focused on hope and family prayer will be delivered to your inbox! Articles include live video, written word, and links to resources that will lead you and your family deeper into faith.
We are on the octave of Easter celebrations. As Christians who believe in the Lord’s resurrection as the foundation of our faith, Easter brings us great joy and wonder, why? it is a manifestation of how God’s love can overpower human sin. Easter brings us into a new life that is more profound than the death we human beings inflict on each other. Easter commemorates Jesus rising from the dead, overcoming the ultimate consequences of sin and death. It brings all of us into a new relationship with God demonstrated through God’s power and love. As believers we become forgiven through faith in the risen Christ, and we can attain salvation.
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Jesus’ death and Resurrection is the most important moment in human history, an event of literally cosmic significance. And so, when you stop to think about it, it is remarkable that Jesus chooses to set this infinitely unique and important moment in the context of His traditional Jewish faith and the ritual of Passover. On the night before the Son of God is to die for the sins of the entire human race throughout all of human history, this is what is most important to Him: that He celebrate the Passover meal with His disciples, and so connect this ritual commemoration of Israel’s freedom from bondage with His new Covenant of eternal freedom from sin and death.
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We see a scene full of mixed emotions; love vs betrayal, grace vs human freedom, positive courage vs failure through betrayal of the one I promise to love. Even Jesus knowing his hour was near and what was to happen does not give in to abandon the humanity. We have many times looked on the betrayal part of Judas which lack personal choice of return due to excess despair and Peter’s betrayal that antithetically to Judas does not end on remorse but on the Mercy of loving Jesus and so Peter chooses repentance and reformation.
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I came across a stand-up comedy bit recently. The comedian says, “You ever notice, after Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, you never see them hanging out again?” Think about that for a moment. Lazarus had a bad day. Not a flat tire. Not a bad meeting. He died. That’s already a terrible day. Day one: “Okay this is new.” Day two: “I am Still dead. Not improving.” Day three: “Alright, I think this is permanent.” Day four: “You know what? I’ve accepted it. I’ve processed it. I’ve let go. I’ve moved on.” He’s finally at peace. Maybe he’s thinking, “This is actually not bad. No bills, no responsibilities, no family WhatsApp groups.” Everything is calm.
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