As we continue our reading of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles and the paralytic miraculously cured by saints Peter and John in the name of Jesus, as they were heading to the temple to pray, we are seeing something beautiful happen: conversions. People were struck by what was happening right before their eyes. Here’s a man they knew from their childhood, suddenly jumping up and down for joy, ecstatic at the healing he has just received!
There are things that we experience and encounter in this life that are undeniably the work of divine intervention, inspiring us to take a greater interest and care for our souls and the things of God. The “franciscanpreacher” as an eyewitness, can attest to a number of unmistakable miracles which not only were a part of his discernment for taking the leap and becoming a Franciscan, but also for following through happily many years later. Any credible miracles we experience or even read about, help us to a more committed pursuit of authentic gospel living where, by following Jesus’ teachings and listening and living his words, we become his witnesses in the world.
Over five thousand individuals were being convicted by the Holy Spirit that the paralytic’s healing was from God. Where else would it be from? What are the options? Only God can heal miraculously. Whenever Satan does something remotely close to the miraculous (beyond nature) it is only to deceive, and is most likely an illusion like Pharoah’s magicians who replicate the staff of Moses turning into a serpent by God’s power, just as their illusion was swallowed up by God’s truth, so too the Father of Lies and Death, will ultimately be defeated by Jesus who is the truth and life everlasting. For example, Saint Paul to the Thessalonians, in speaking of the antichrist, the Man of Lawlessness to come, spoke about how, “…When the Lord Jesus comes, his appearance will put an end to this man. The man of sin will come with the power of Satan. He will use every kind of power, including miraculous and wonderful signs. But they will be lies” (2 Thessalonians 2:8,9 ).
Given Satan is the Father of Lies, he would never work a remarkable sign or illusion if it meant that people will turn to embrace Jesus as the truth. This is why Jesus himself told us that Satan would never work against himself and bring to ruin his own kingdom. Rather, what do we see here? We see that the miracle only bolstered the message of Peter and John concerning the veracity of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. Imagine the joy of these people who finally began to realize that Jesus was indeed the Messiah who had truly come from God, not in glory but in the humble form of a slave, and now he was risen, victorious over death. They’re now seeing the justice of it: that “the Son of Man indeed had to suffer before entering his glory” Luke 24:26. In this incredible healing, wrought before their very eyes, they got a taste of Jesus’ glory and was it ever sweet. The sweet, healing presence of the Son of God in our lives, and how often do we have to jump into those sweet healing waters of Jesus? Like the other paralytic who was taken to the pool to be healed by Jesus… it wasn’t the pool, but the water was a symbol of Jesus himself, the ultimate healer.
We’re also seeing a much bolder, courageous and excited pair of apostles here. Peter and John have seen things, been through things that are not of this world. Seeing the miraculous by now has become a common occurrence for these two pillars of the early Church, and one such instance is recorded for us in today’s beautiful gospel.
This is the third time Jesus would have appeared to them as a group. Once again by the sea, most likely at the spot where it all started that day that Jesus spotted four of these apostles in their boats mending nets and called them to begin their incredible journey as his disciples. Once again, the Lord is reminding these men how specially chosen they are, and once again, they don’t immediately recognize him standing on the shore of the sea and calling out to them. They listen to his instructions nevertheless, the miraculous happens, and then they knew it was him.
How uplifting these visitations of the risen Lord must have been to the apostles. From an acute sense of failure starting from Holy Thursday evening, to Easter Sunday morning, to a renewed spirit of victory and joy upon seeing and experiencing the risen Lord so intimately, who even eats with them, and allows them to touch him so as to ascertain he wasn’t a ghost. And then miraculously disappearing just as he miraculously appeared. We see the courage it inspired, on full display in Peter and John’s courage, before the anger and plotting of the authorities who arrest them. Jesus foretold that first they would preach, and then they would be persecuted, and as the Lord foretold, the story begins to unfold. How inspiring the Lord is to us as well who have believed, to live for him and share his truth notwithstanding what it might cost us… even family members or cousins who think we’re losing our minds, are unable to comprehend the depth of what has happened in our hearts and minds. That’s where they’re at and that’s okay because only God can touch their hearts as he touched ours. We just need to pray and be patient. Jesus is patient with us and so should we be as well with others.
May the good Lord bless and protect you, guide and uphold you as you continue your journey through the Easter season.
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