Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Wednesday in the Octave of Easter, April 23, 2025

Delivered by Nita Marcelia from the Parish of Saint James in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 3: 1-10; Rs psalm 105: 1-2.3-4.6-7.8-9; Luke 24: 13-35RECOGNIZINGGOD THROUGH HIS WORD Ourmeditation today is entitled: Recognizing God Through His Word. The celebrationof the Lord's resurrection on Easter Sunday is the most special opportunity torecognize our true Lord Jesus Christ. We know that after the resurrection,Jesus will remain in our midst but not in the form of a body of this world, butas a Spirit that accompanies and animates our lives. The Spirit of God revealsitself in the form of the word of God that is conveyed to those who believe.The Word of God is expressed in written, oral and symbolic forms. Therisen Jesus ensures that His word remains an indisputable proof of God's powerand mercy for mankind. God's Word is manifested in every form of communicationin our lives. Language and words become the most fundamental tool for us toconvey the message and its meaning to others. In all religions, and especiallyin Christianity, the Word of God is a person who communicates and revealshimself to be known by others. That person is Jesus Christ. Until now, the fundamentaltruth that has been preserved in the Church is our confession of faith that Godis present through His word. Thepower of God's word is the power of God Himself. The power of resurrection andlife must rule over our lives. Those who go against this power because of theirevil, ignorance, and sins must not be given opportunity to control our lives.Together with the members of the Early Church, mainly the apostles anddisciples of Jesus, we in this Easter season are again encouraged to strengthenour belief that through the word of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, the renewal ofthe quality of our faith is made possible. Theword of the risen Jesus comes to console those who are sad, grieving, and losthope. There are so many people around us who have the same difficulties likethe two disciples of Emmaus. They will be happy in recognizing God when theirsorrow, sickness and despair are overcome. The Word of God is also a divinepower of compassion for those who are uninformed, not updated, ignorant, anduneducated. They have rights to have truth, virtues and goodness, becausethrough all these they can truly recognize God. TheWord of God also plays a basic role in strengthening the faith of those who arein crisis, especially those who are less grateful and doubtful about God'sprovidential care of their lives. Many people doubt in their faith whensuffering and pain come along their lives. Like the paralyzed and sick personwho got healed through the word and prayers of the two apostles of Jesus, theWord of God really works to heal and save us. We only need to depend ourselveson the Word of the risen Lord, Jesus Christ.Let's pray. In thename of the Father ... O Lord Jesus Christ, help us that we may always able torecognize You in every moment of our lives. Glory to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father …