FRIDAY 17-5-2013, 7TH WEEK OF EASTER
Acts 25: 13b-21/ John 21: 15-19

Yesterday my dear friends, we reflected on how Paul was tried in Jerusalem and today, we see how he was tried in Rome. Our first reading today therefore is a continuation of yesterday's. Yet, there is something quite distinct in the mode of trial in this two places. In Jerusalem, the accused and the accusers were never brought together so that the accused can defend himself. But this was what the Romans did. " I told them it was not the custom of Romans to hand over a roman without first giving him the opportunity to defend himself in front of his accusers"
My dear friends, there is a lesson this reading holds for us. Lets all think about those moments that we like the Pharisees and Sadducees in yesterday readings have passed sentence or sentences as the case may be on people based on hear-say, prejudice, malicious intent or even bias? The latter part of our first reading today told us that Festus affirmed that the crisis they had with paul was based on religion differences as well as about Christ's resurrection not on any of the crimes he was hitherto made to believe he committed. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this passage is therefore one that should sting us to consciousness on the need to be careful on how we pass sentence or sentences of condemnation on others. Sometimes, our so called "first impression" that last long should be made to pass through serious scrutiny so that we do not hold erroneous impressions about people. That brother or sister of yours whom you have completely ruled out might actually be innocent of the charges you hold against him or her.
Our gospel reading once again my dear friends, draws our attention to the fact that the Grace of God can transform the worst of sinners. Peter was an example we cited yesterday as one who couldn't manage the difficult situation in which he found himself and therefore denied Christ and fell into sin. But today, he is given the responsibility of tending to the sheep Christ is going to leave behind. This reminds us not to be quick to write-off people as failures even though we have seen or we aware of their weaknesses and pitfalls. Let us take refuge in the words of Henry Ford who submits that, 'failure is an opportunity to begin more intelligently again'. Yet another thing which we should pay attention to is what Fr. Emmmanuel Okami referred to as the Canonical exam which Christ gave to Peter before giving him the ministry of the Vicar. Christ never asked Peter complex questions like, what is the eschatological significance of the paschal mystery, or what do you understand by the trinity, he never asked him how many jets he was going to acquire to spread the Gospel or how many mighty churches he was going to build. The simple question he asked was, Peter do you love me? this he did thrice. Perhaps this was to compensate for the triple denial. However, what immediately concerns us is that the simple criteria to be a follower or servant of Christ is love. All we need to do is to simply love God. The question which therefore confronts us from this reading is, Do I Love God? If we do, then it willl reflect in our attitude to the things of God as well as in our relationship with our neighbors. We will therefore not at any point in time pass sentences of condemnation on our neighbors based on hear say or without hearing from them. Better still, i think the antidote to overcoming this tendency was supplied sometime ago on Fr. Martin Ajiboye's Facebook page. A status that was liked by over forty persons and shared by another fifty. He says "if you cannot say something good about somebody, then its better you don't say anything at all"
Dearly beloved in Christ as we await the outpouring of the spirit, let us pray that God's love may be kindled in our hearts and also help us to Love God and even our neighbors through Christ our Lord. Amen