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Wednesday of 4^th Week of Easter: Reflection

THEME: BEGIN EVERY ACTIVITY WITH PRAYER

Reading: Acts 12:24-13:5a

Dear friends in Christ, the first reading of today reminds me of one beautiful song that goes this way: “Prayer is the key (2x), Prayer is the master key. Jesus started with prayer and ended with prayer. Prayer is the master key.”

In this reading, Barnabas and Paul were about to be sent out for missionary work. Before sending them, the disciples prayed and fasted and, at the end, they laid hands on them and sent them forth. They did all these because they understood that without God, they can do nothing; but, with God on their side, every obstacle will be surmounted. The success of Paul’s mission in the gentile world testifies to the impact of that prayer of commission.

Dear friends, one of the mistakes we make every day is thinking that we can carry on alone without divine assistance. There is always the temptation to think that with our human connections, resources and other materials assistance well placed, we can achieve anything. But then, when we realize that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph 6:12), we will understand why many people who had all material resources at their disposal could not reach the peak they desired.

Today’s first reading, therefore, invites us to begin every activity and each day by calling on the name of God, asking Him to take control, to fight our battles, to amplify our natural abilities with His grace and to bless our efforts with success.

I pray that your efforts this Wednesday be crowned with success. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima