Word for the day day by Christian Education Forum

 Jesus Christ: Fully Human and Fully Divine

Acts 4: 1-12
V-7: ”By what power or what name did you do this?”

In this passage, we see Peter and John were brought in front of the court. Peter gave the speech in front of the Sanhedrin and when we read through the speech it exemplifies the greatest level of courage a human can demonstrate. We can recollect those in our lives too. How we were forced to be unusually brave with inner peace from Christ. We see Peter illustrates the power and courage despite the outcome. This reminds us of the great Greek warrior Achilles was told that if he went of battle he would surely die, but his answer was ‘nevertheless I am going on’. 

I can remember as a kid believing that I could fly and explore the universe. My daydreams included having superpowers like invisibility and imagining that my loved ones would never die. The older I become, those dreams grew to higher scales like becoming a journalist, traveling the world, making a real difference in the world, and having a perfect family. In these imaginations, I never thought to put myself in any painful or tragic situations. 

I assume that many of you had these different fantasies growing up as well. Unfortunately, we now understand the harsh realities of our lives. We have experienced failures, the death of loved ones, and broken relationships. Christ can transform our experiences and can redeem the expectations and revive hope. 

Humankind is going through an unprecedented time. All our old prosperous stories are crumbling, and we are struggling to find new ones to replace them. People are forced to stay within the barriers of their shelter and children are stuck at home doing online schooling, some working from home, and others going to work with distress.  The restrictions placed have caused a growing distance among individuals. Emotions are hidden behind masks and our gaze has lost compassion instead replaced with doubt and apprehension. 

William Sloane Coffin wrote ‘I love the recklessness of faith first you leap and then you grow wings’ and I am touched by its piercing truthfulness while reflecting on the past. Every sweet and meaningful endeavor demands walking into uncertainty. Getting married, having children, migrating to a new country, getting a new job, responding to the call to follow Jesus are some examples of such endeavors. 

As we read in Max Lucado’s writing in reference to Joseph, “we see the perfect mess, God sees a perfect chance to train and test a future Prime Minister, we see a prison God sees kiln. We see famine; God sees the relocation of his chosen lineage. We call it Egypt God calls it protective custody. We see Satan’s tricks and ploys. God sees Satan tripped and foiled”.
 

Prayer

Dear Lord, empower us to proclaim salvation through Your death and resurrection and to witness You in this chaotic world. Amen. 
 

Thought for the day

Surely God would not have created such a being as man to exist only for a day! No, no man was made for immortality.  - Abraham Lincoln
 

Shijy Alex
Chicago Marthoma Church

Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church