Tuesday of 2nd Week of Easter

Theme: THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION.

Reading: Acts 4:32–37

No one will hear the account in today’s first reading without admiring what was stated about the first community of believers in Christ. They were reported to have embraced communal living, with members of the community willingly and wholeheartedly handing over whatever they owed to the apostles to be used to assist members who were in need.

In that community, selfishness was eradicated, hatred was banished, jealousy was buried, and all vices were defeated. But what was the magic? How did those that were once vying for positions at the right and left hand of Jesus in His glory suddenly become changed to the extent that outsiders started admiring how they conducted themselves? The answer is that such was the power of Christ’s resurrection; a power that transformed fear-ridden men into courageous harbingers of the good news; it is a power that transforms whoever opens himself and embraces it. The disciples of Jesus allowed themselves to be transformed by the power of Christ’s resurrection and what we read in today’s first reading is a testimony of the fruits of their openness to such power. It enabled them to become the best they could be.

Dear friends, there is a power that comes from the resurrection of Christ. It transforms whoever welcomes it, filling him with new life and bringing out the best in him. In today’s first reading, it enabled Barnabas, whose name means “son of encouragement”, to set a good example and, thus, became a real source of encouragement to all believers in the early Christian community.

If you open your life to the power of Christ’s resurrection and allow it to transform you, the best in you will be unleashed; it will empower you to be the best you can be.

May your activities this Tuesday receive Divine empowerment. Amen.

Fr Isaac Chima