Beggar to believer- Wednesday in the Octave of Easter- Acts 3:1-10
The narration of the healing of the crippled beggar by Peter and John, and the subsequent address by Peter in Solomon’s portico will be taken up by the lectionary in two parts. Today we will hear the miracle, and tomorrow the homily. These actions on the part of Peter and John will lead to the first persecution in the Church.
While in chapter two we hear in a generalised way “that many signs and wonders were done”, here is the first recorded miracle performed by the apostles. If you look at the pattern of this healing story, it is typical of a miracle story in the life of Jesus. It is interesting to note how the Church follows Christ, as it should be.
We are told that Peter and John enter the temple at three pm which was one of the three hours of prayer for a pious Jew, and it is here that they see a man who was lame from birth being carried in. We are told that the cripple is laid at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful gate.
Let us talk a bit about this gate which Josephus the historian records. He says this gate was called the ‘Nicanor’ gate and was seventy five feet high and made out of Corinthian bronze. It was a gate that separated the court of the woman from the court of the men or Israel. Fifteen steps led to the court of the women, and it was here that the cripple was placed.
Scripture also tells us that this man was begging from people ‘entering the temple’; technically he is ‘outside the temple’. He has not come as a worshipper but as one seeking charity. He asks Peter and John for alms and so we can surmise that he was not looking for a healing, he was looking for a hand-out. Interestingly after his healing he ‘enters’ the temple as a worshipper and a man of faith.
Fr. Warner D'Souza is a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Bombay. He has served in the parishes of St Michael's (Mahim), St Paul's (Dadar East), Our Lady of Mount Carmel, (Bandra), a ten year stint as priest-in-charge at St Jude Church (Malad East) and at present is the Parish Priest at St Stephen's Church (Cumballa Hill). He is also the Director of the Archdiocesan Heritage Museum and is the co-ordinator of the Committee for the Promotion and Preservation of the Artistic and Historic Patrimony of the Church.
The focus is always ‘moving closer to God’ ! And God know us even before we say thanks to him. This crippled man did just that. From begging to believing.I thank God for the miracle of my daughter Janice. I totally love HIM and thank Him. I have begged to be strong in my trials and I believe in HIS miracle of my Janice.. I am happy I believe in I AM.
There are certain points that came to my mind when I read the scripture. 1st is the Gate, and it’s name. The v fact the gate was mentioned and it’s name, there has to be something spectacular about it. I was wondering what this gate would be like. Your reflection did mention about the intensity and the magnitude of the Gate. Indeed it is beautiful!
Secondly, I was wondering, who carried this crippled man daily. That means there was someone to carry this man daily. Thank God for these men, who brought this man, otherwise he would not have encountered St. Peter and At. John.
Above all, How intense were the look of the Apostle. I wonder what telepathy they were having with the Lord… Like did they have a Bluetooth, ” yes, this is the man, he needs to be healed, and HEAL.”
I hope I meet St. Peter at the Gates of heaven. I hope I am able to heal the wounds by forgiveness and faith. Faith of a mustered seed and continue “Praising God” for the continuous miracle happening in our lives that we cannot see with the Human eyes.
Thank you Fr. Warner for the wonderful insights and teachings. May God bless you abundantly. 🌼
This reflection is beautiful. I am often puzzled, whether I am grateful enough for all that God does for me. It reminds me of sharing the blessings of my daily life s a testimony to others, not necessarily on stage, but a simple chat with my friends… It’s important to acknowledge the blessings and healing that we experience. ☺
Shalom! I was touched by the words, ‘enters’ the temple… and ‘to be included into the worshipping community is to experience a form of healing, ‘ this aspect skipped me as I focused more on the miracle! It’s a very human emotion to want to feel included, needed, sheltered. …secure in love! When the Lord heals He really, leads us to experience love, joy , peace on earth itself, found in communitarian life, KoG out here itself. Thank you Lord!
This morning I was struggling n feeling frustrated with my son’s studies. ..so we paused n I prayed thanking Jesus for his disinterest, boredom etc in science n ended by asking for the grace to continue in spite of all these feelings. My 11 year old was shocked at my prayer. Thank you Jesus the chapter was done n over in no time. Praise God!
God can chose to heal anyone, believer or non believer….
How beautiful! And yet there’s soo much talk by many that if one does not receive healing, it is only due to lack of faith..
He can choose to heal first and increase the faith later or the other way round…wonder how some ppl chose to decide this on God’s behalf 🙂
Thankyou for highlighting this Fr.
Unmerited favour from God, The cripple was not the only one. We all are similarly favoured, or we could not stand.
What touched me most is that God chooses to heal both believers and non-believers. And that’s why we see people of other faiths throng to churches. To receive the healing of mind and heart.
Thank you Father for such insight. God bless
God can heal a believer or a non-believer!
What is important is faith! It doesn’t matter whose faith. At Cana, Mary’s Faith in her Son. The faith of four friends for the paralytic. The faith of Bartaemeus himself for his healing. The Roman officer for his servant, the faith of the haemoraging woman herself and many different cases.
But when Jesus heals, He does a wholesome treatment. He heals both body and soul! First, “your sins are forgiven.” Then, “take up your mat and walk.”
Do we believe in intercession? Let us not wait for the patient to believe. Let us, as friends in Christ, pray for each other. Then glorify the Lord and proclaim his Goid News.
Christ is merciful to both believer as well as non-believer.
What a coincidence.
Today I completed 8yrs In Christ(8yrs old in Christ).
While reading each line felt like God is talking to me as they’re relatable and touching.
Last night I was thinking about the same thing, where I was and what I am today, my purpose in Christian life and possibilities to do more for Him…
I relate my self to the cripple as I was seeking help to walk on right path.
Met ppl like Peter & John who helped me to receive Jesus.
After the healing I too entered the Church and became the Man of Faith.
God chose a person like me who was a non-believer.
My response to the healing was to understand where it came from, to acknowledge it’s power and to walk through it. Make Him my master, my God and then proclaim it to others who are sitting at the gate in need of healing. To be His instrument and to do something like Peter and John, in Jesus’s name.
Thank You Father & God Bless you for being one of the Peter & John in my and many others in the journey of Faith and today please keep me in your prayers so that I grow more be to be His instrument.