FREED BY LOVE, FREED TO LOVE
Wednesday in the Second Week of Easter
Jn 3:16-21
I am not in the position to contest the historicity of the First Reading today (Acts 5:17-26). Were the apostles actually freed by an angel of the Lord after the chief priest and his supporters threw them into prison? Did an angel of the Lord really came in the night, opened the prison gates, led the apostles out, and gave them the instruction to stand in the Temple and preach their new life? The First Reading today may be historically accurate or not, but let us try to reflect on the account from a deeper perspective.
Prior to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, the latter were a band of fearful men. They were found by the Holy Spirit locked up inside the Upper Room, just as Jesus found them immediately after His Resurrection; yes, in prayer, but perhaps also in fear of those who put Jesus to death. If they killed the Master, could His disciples we safe? And because misery loves company, the apostles stick together and hid themselves in the Upper Room.
Of course, the Acts of the Apostles tells us that the Blessed Mother was with them. I believe she was there not because of fear but because of her role to console and strengthen them in their hour of weakness. Such has always been and still is her role in the midst of the followers of Jesus. She was praying with them and for them to receive the promised Paraclete.
When the Paraclete came, there was not only a sudden change in the apostles. A radical transformation happened in each of the persona of the apostles: from cowardice to boldness, from timidity to spontaneity, from fear to freedom. The Holy Spirit freed the apostles even before the angel of the Lord opened the prison gates for them later on.
True freedom is a gift of the Holy Spirit. The gates that imprison us because of our fears, insecurities, confusion and guilt cannot withstand the impact of the force of the Spirit of God. Locks are shattered. Chains are broken. Hearts are set free.
The Holy Spirit is the love of God. Eternal life means authentic freedom. God so loved us that He gave us His only Son, the Gospel today reminds us. To welcome His love into our hearts is to be truly free. To share the same love with others is to set them free. We become like the angel that led the apostles out of their prison when we love others with the love of God, with the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Jn 3:16-21
I am not in the position to contest the historicity of the First Reading today (Acts 5:17-26). Were the apostles actually freed by an angel of the Lord after the chief priest and his supporters threw them into prison? Did an angel of the Lord really came in the night, opened the prison gates, led the apostles out, and gave them the instruction to stand in the Temple and preach their new life? The First Reading today may be historically accurate or not, but let us try to reflect on the account from a deeper perspective.
Prior to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, the latter were a band of fearful men. They were found by the Holy Spirit locked up inside the Upper Room, just as Jesus found them immediately after His Resurrection; yes, in prayer, but perhaps also in fear of those who put Jesus to death. If they killed the Master, could His disciples we safe? And because misery loves company, the apostles stick together and hid themselves in the Upper Room.
Of course, the Acts of the Apostles tells us that the Blessed Mother was with them. I believe she was there not because of fear but because of her role to console and strengthen them in their hour of weakness. Such has always been and still is her role in the midst of the followers of Jesus. She was praying with them and for them to receive the promised Paraclete.
When the Paraclete came, there was not only a sudden change in the apostles. A radical transformation happened in each of the persona of the apostles: from cowardice to boldness, from timidity to spontaneity, from fear to freedom. The Holy Spirit freed the apostles even before the angel of the Lord opened the prison gates for them later on.
True freedom is a gift of the Holy Spirit. The gates that imprison us because of our fears, insecurities, confusion and guilt cannot withstand the impact of the force of the Spirit of God. Locks are shattered. Chains are broken. Hearts are set free.
The Holy Spirit is the love of God. Eternal life means authentic freedom. God so loved us that He gave us His only Son, the Gospel today reminds us. To welcome His love into our hearts is to be truly free. To share the same love with others is to set them free. We become like the angel that led the apostles out of their prison when we love others with the love of God, with the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
posted by Fr. Bobby @ 3:00 PM
0 Comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home