Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Should I command you to get up or put you on your feet...


"Why are you amazed at this, and why do you look so intently at us as if we made him walk by our power or piety?" Acts 3:12

Peter is probably one of my favorite people in the bible.  Not only was he the first pope but he was probably one of the most hard-headed Christians too.  I chose this scripture to reflect upon today because if Peter were around today, he would have been just a little bit older than I am now so I can totally picture him going "Duh, Jesus..." instead of this great statement to the people.  The context of this quote is they were passing a cripple in Jerusalem and Peter looks over at him and picks him up and sets him on his feet and he is immediately able to walk.  The people are all amazed at what he has done and I imagine him today saying "Duh, Jesus..."  This goes back to the heart of the Christian walk.  How many of the poor and lame do we walk by everyday without so much as giving them a second glance or even a prayer.  The need for to reach out to the poor is becoming even more great as the wealth gap in the United States is growing ever more day by day.  The American financial crisis is only a financial crisis to the poor.  The rich won't see any real hiccup in their day-to-day lives.  Christ calls us to live as he did.  The Apostles got it.  The Church gets it.  Do we get it?

"God, our Father, help us today to see your children as you do.  Open our eyes and our hearts to see and love like you do.  Give us the strength, courage and love to do unto others as we would want you do unto us.  Let us be your miracle to the poor and let us be content with your will and obediently follow you wherever you take us.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen."

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