Wednesday within the Octave of Easter
What I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk. (Acts 3:6)
Imagine that youre cleaning junk out of an old relatives house and you discover a dusty painting that turns out to be a valuable work of Renoir! You have pushed it aside plenty of times, not recognizing it, yet suddenly looking at it with new eyes, you realize how priceless it is.
This scenario is similar to what happened in todays first reading. Every day as they went to the Temple to pray, Peter and John would walk past this Beautiful Gate that scholars believed was adorned with hammered bronze and gold (Acts 3:2). It must have been delightful to look at. However, they would also walk past this lame beggar who sat at the foot of this gate. It seems that they had never really taken note of him before. He must have seemed so insignificant compared to his stunning surroundings.
But for whatever reason, the Holy Spirit decided to open Peter and Johns eyes to the man on this particular day as they pass him by. They feel drawn to look at him and confidently invite him to be healed. Then the man responds to his miracle with such excitement that everyone around suddenly recognizes this beggar as well and sees how precious and beautiful he is. After all, God wouldnt bother to work a miracle unless the fellow had some value!
The beauty of the world is always before us, and we should always appreciate it. However, God also wants us to open our eyes to the veiled treasures hidden around us. He wants to teach us how to look beyond at the people we pass every day and see how precious they are to the Lord. And he does this not just so that we will admire them but so that we will treat them with the dignity they deserve. Imagine the healing, the restoration, and the peace that we can bring to this world as we see the beauty and glory present in each and every person around us!
Lord, help me to see how precious people are in your eyes. Fill me with your love and compassion. Give me the courage to extend your love to them.
Psalm 105:1-4, 6-9
Luke 24:13-35