Taking risks for the Lord

Good News Reflection
Friday of the Third Week of Easter
April 23, 2010

Today's Saint: George
Pray for victory:
http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/George.htm

Today's Readings:
Acts 9:1-20
Ps 117:1bc-2 (with Mark 16:15)
John 6:52-59
http://www.usccb.org/nab/042310.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_04_23.mp3

Taking risks for the Lord

In today's first reading, Judas and Ananias take an extraordinary risk because of their love for the Lord and their ability to listen – really listen – to him. Against common sense, they helped a fanatically prejudiced, dangerous enemy. And thus they played a significant role in changing the world.

How would we respond if Jesus were to appear to us in a vision like he did for Ananias? Are our prayer lives so brief and weak that a vision is highly unlikely? And what if Jesus says to us, "I want you to go to the other side of town, to the house of another church member. He's got a visitor there and I want you to minister to him." This degree of communion with Christ was normal for Christians for many centuries. Then the Age of Enlightenment and scientific inquiry dictated that everything has to be proven by repeatable, empirical studies or else it cannot be true, thus making the supernatural natural seem superstitious.

And what if Jesus not only appears to us but says that he wants to use us to provide a miraculous healing? Is this when we assert the limitations of common sense and conclude that the whole vision is just our imagination? Or do we reply: "Jesus, if you want it, then he'll be healed as you say."

And what if Jesus then tells us that it's our ex-spouse we'll be visiting. Or the father who abused us. Or the employer who makes our job miserable. Or that other person who makes us angry or fearful. "Say what? You can't be serious!"

Jesus says, "Go!"

Ananias went despite any fears or logic. He and Judas were the first Christians to befriend and forgive Saul (renamed Paul). Because they trusted Jesus more than their own perspectives and ideas, they were Paul's first experience of true Christianity.

We must never underestimate the impact that we can make when we follow Christ into unknown, unpredictable, unreasonable and even scary circumstances. What has he been asking you to do that you've been resisting? Your act of faith might be the first step in a long, hugely important plan of God. We must never underestimate how essential we are.

Jesus says in today's Gospel passage that his Flesh is bread from heaven. By consuming his Flesh and Blood in the Eucharist at Mass, we renew our participation in God's salvation plan for the world. Just as Jesus risked everything to heal our souls and lead us to heaven, so too are we sent forth from Mass to take risks with him, carrying his healing and salvation to others.

For more inspiration from the story of Judas and Ananias, please go to Catholic Digital Resources: http://catholicdr.com/calendar/January/Jan25.htm

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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