When You Have God, You Have Everything
(Wednesday 15th April 2020. Read Acts 3:1-10, Psalm 105 and Luke 24:13-35)
“Peter said: ‘I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’” (Acts 3:6)
The lame man at the beautiful gate begged for alms; he asked for what would ensure his survival for the moment. Is this not our story? We get on our knees praying; begging God for silver and gold. How often do we ask for a deeper faith, holiness, repentance, deeper relationship with God?
Peter did not have money but he knew he had God. He said: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” When you have God, you have everything. When you do not have God, nothing is ever enough.
In today’s Gospel passage, two disciples were walking away from Jerusalem in disappointment. They were expecting Jesus to take over political power from the Romans. They had been eying some political appointments in Jesus’ Government. Like this lame man, their relationship with Jesus was based purely on materialistic expectations.
Jesus met them on their way to Emmaus and like Mary Magdalene, they did not immediately recognize Jesus not because their eyes were covered with tears, but because their minds were closed to the truth.
Jesus took his time to explain the whole of the Bible to them, beginning with Moses and all the prophets. Jesus gave them a profound lecture or better put, the greatest sermon of their lives. Their hearts burned within them.
They realized how wrong they were to have had such expectations of Jesus but still, they couldn’t recognize Jesus. It was at the breaking of bread that their eyes were opened. Why did Jesus vanish? Did Jesus really vanish?
See, as soon as the Bread and Wine became transubstantiated into the Body and Blood of Jesus, Jesus became present in two physical forms. They couldn’t see Him who escorted them on the way to Emmaus, but they saw Him fully present in the Holy Eucharist. Jesus was still with them just as He is with us today.
By this experience with these two disciples, Jesus was passing on a deep message not only to the two disciples but to mankind. Jesus did not come into this world to make us materially rich or politically powerful (possessing earthly kingdoms, etc.) No, Jesus came to give us something far more important: His Body and Blood - His physical presence in the Holy Eucharist.
Jesus is still with us today and He is all we need. Nothing else can ever satisfy us. There is no amount of silver and gold that will be enough, nothing can ever fill up the emptiness we often feel deep inside our hearts. Even all your problems (especially COVID-19) will be over today, if you don’t have God, you will still be restless.
You know that song: “You take the whole world, and give me Jesus. You take the whole world and give me Jesus, you take the whole world and give me Jesus. I’m satisfied, I’m satisfied.”
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, open my eyes to really see what I have. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of Easter Octave. Bible Study: Acts 3:1-10, Psalm 105 and Luke 24:13-35).