Reflections from the Heart – April 20, 2025

The Resurrection of the Lord
by Fr. Ivan Olmo

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power.” Perhaps one of the easiest and simplest ways to define sin is simply to acknowledge and state that it simply is a misuse of power. Certainly, sin is evil and doing evil is a sin. It is a misuse of power created and meant to share in the beauty and goodness of God. Power to exist, to live, to be, to share purely and truthfully in the life and love of God. Power in this light or rather in darkness focuses on self, seeking selfish reasons to satisfy the self selfishly. Rather than utilizing the power in a good way or as intended, we use power as a means of achieving accomplishments at the expense of others, seeking recognition at any cost and desiring and lusting over material success without considering or willing the good of another. We misuse the power God has freely provided and given as a natural gift to assist others in their time of need. Power that can provide food and sustenance to improvised peoples or communities. Power that can really, truly bring glad tidings to the spiritual poor and material needy. We can use that power to give sight to the blind and provide direction to those who have lost their way. Power to heal and reconcile the brokenhearted, freeing those spiritually imprisoned and setting all who feel captive free. Rather than using this kind of power to provide peace and much needed relief, power is maliciously and selfishly twisted and misdirected from the capability of doing good that is natural to us and naturally for the good of others, we use power to do bad and evil to others which is an unnatural thing to do. Hurting, destroying and starving life rather than protecting, preserving and nourishing it. Jesus has the power to lay down his life and to take it up again. He uses his power only for good. Not for himself but so that others may have the grace and the power to enjoy once again the beauty and goodness of God, which is our greatest and only good. True power exercised correctly, says yes only to the will of God, which is always good for you and for me. True power exercised correctly, says no always to sin, Satan, evil and the devil who always oppose the will of God. Sin is always bad for you and for me. True power exercised correctly, always seeks to avoid evil and do what is righteous. That’s powerful.