Thursday April 4, 2024

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Good News Reflections:
Making scripture meaningful to your daily life
by Terry Modica

“The resurrection becomes real when we start looking at how our crosses can glorify God and benefit other people.”

Good News Reflection for:

Thursday in the Octave of Easter
April 4, 2024

Today’s Prayer:

My Lord: Give me the grace of recognizing Your Real Presence in the Eucharist. Forgive me for living enclosed in my worries without going to You, the living Bread from Heaven. Amen.

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Today’s Readings:

Acts 3:11-26
Ps 8:2ab, 5-9
Luke 24:35-48
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040424.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-april-4-2024

Need a miracle?

The story in today’s first reading reminds me of the time my parish received a visit from a mission priest who was advertised as a healer. Although his teachings did not focus on supernatural healings, the people did. They came in droves for miracles, and although miracles did occur, the greatest healings were those that happened inside of hearts and minds and souls. The man’s reputation as a “healing priest” drew them in, but those who listened attentively discovered Jesus.

Peter said, “Why are you fascinated by this miracle, and why do you look at us as if we made this man walk by our own power or piety?” Then he refocused them on the Who behind the miracle. The people did not initially understand — they crowded around Peter and John because they wanted to see more miracles; what they got was a message of truth about Jesus.

In the Gospel reading, I wonder why the disciples still thought Jesus was only a ghost, even though the women had reported seeing Jesus alive, and even though Peter and John had witnessed the empty tomb. They did not initially understand what Jesus had foretold about rising from the dead. Jesus had to explain it to them again, from the Easter side of his death. After seeing the miracle in front of their faces (Jesus proved he was alive by munching on some fish), they finally started to grasp his message.

Why is it that we don’t see our risen Lord everywhere and in everything until we understand the message that he’s trying to convey?

To be honest, it’s because we’re looking at the resurrection the wrong way: “What’s in it for me? How does this bless my life?” Spiritual truths are impossible to understand when we limit them to a self-centered view. We grasp the true message when we realize: “What’s in it for God? If he’s blessed, I will be blessed, too, and others besides!”

Remember, Jesus didn’t rise from the dead for his own sake, for the same reason he didn’t die for his own sake. His victory over our sins and then his victory over death blessed the Father and the whole world too.

What don’t you understand? This is where you still need an outward-focused resurrection experience.

The resurrection becomes real in our everyday lives when we stop the selfish thinking of “What’s in it for me?” and start looking at how our crosses can glorify God and benefit other people.

To help you reflect further on this, go to our podcast, “The virtue that releases faith” @ https://gnm-media.org/the-virtue-that-releases-faith/.

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