The Easter Call: To burn within!

Wednesday within the Easter Octave: 4th April, 2018

Acts 3: 1-10; Lk 24: 13-35

The presence of the Risen Lord was felt in a concrete sense by the apostles and those around them. The Risen Lord was there as a fire within them, burning their hearts, warming up their relationships, heating up their commitments and lighting up their understanding. Their lives were touched by the Lord and not merely they, but all those who were around felt that touch. I was pleasantly surprised one day, when one of the cleanliness staff in our campus remarked to me as I was passing him by: 'when you are around, we all sense it. There is so much laughter and cheer!' I could not thank God enough for such an affirmation that day.

Aren't we called to be Easter people, radiating joy, radiating warmth, radiating light! That does not mean we would have no problems or no struggles! They would in fact abound. But that does not matter because we have within us a fire that is alive, burning and igniting every part of our selves - the fire of the Risen Lord. 

I received a message a few days back requesting prayers - the person said her marriage was broken, now she finds herself alone with her child, she cannot go back to her family because she had entered into this marriage against all their wish! Why is God so blind to my problems, she ended the message. I only enquired, if there were no indications when things were beginning to happen or was she negligent of those indications! However, even now she can confront her problems if only she draws strength from that fire that is within her - the presence of the Risen Lord! Can't she?

With that fire burning in our hearts, we can face any situation and find new lease of life within us and share the same with all around us.