In Chapter 3 of the Acts of the Apostles, I was drawn to the reference of the “Beautiful Gate” at the temple. It was the place where the man who had been crippled from birth was brought each day to beg.
It made me wonder why it had this name. A little research revealed that it was most likely one of the main entrances to the Temple Mount, perhaps leading to the Court of Women. It was a public place where many would have seen this man each day.
And, no doubt, the gate would have been beautifully ornate. Symbolically, though, it would stand in stark contrast to the life situation of the man who, because of his disability, needed to beg for sustenance each day. And, no doubt, there were people who manifested religious observance by solely visiting the Temple, but lacked compassion fueled by faith.
Peter and John remind us of the need to have both—to observe our worship of God at the celebration of the Mass and to have compassion and generosity toward those in need: whether it is material, spiritual, or relational.
Recognizing Jesus
In the Gospel of Luke, we find a reminder of how Jesus’ presence in our lives is often only realized after the fact. Just like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, at times, our eyes, ears, and minds can prevent us from recognizing that Jesus is right before us.
Every one of us wants to be close to Jesus to hear Him speak words of direction, encouragement, consolation, etc. However, even though we try to clear our minds, listen, and look, we often don’t recognize His work in our lives until later.
As I was reflecting on this, I can remember several key moments when I perceived the love of God and His mercy in the moment. But perhaps like me, most of us come to recognize Jesus' presence when we have a moment of quiet, a conversation with someone about our day, or time to pray.
Visible in the Eucharist
The good news is that Jesus doesn’t give up on trying to make His presence known, just as He did with the two disciples. He reaches out repeatedly each day. He helps us to understand not only the Word of God but how it is to be lived out.
And Jesus is certainly visible in the Eucharist that we celebrate at Mass.
Each of us has passed through a beautiful gate of sorts to enter into the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, where we are in the presence of Jesus, both in Word and the Eucharist. When we meet people in need, the challenge for us is: how can we bring the love and compassion of Jesus to them, including to members of our own families, using God’s grace and the examples of Peter and John?
- Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
