ELEMENTS OF OUR NEW LIFE: (4. BOLD PREACHERS OF REPENTANCE). (Homily for March 31, 2016. Easter Thursday.)


Bible Study: Acts 3, 11 to 26 and Luke 24, 35 to 48.


When Jesus appeared to the company of his disciples, they were at first taken aback thinking it was a ghost. Jesus wanted them to be concretely sure that they were not seeing a ghost, that what they were seeing was not just a figment of their imagination nor a dream. So he asked them if they had anything to eat and they gave him a piece of broiled fish which he ate in their presence. He then went on to explain the Scriptures further to them.

It is very important that we take note of Jesus’ words here: “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS of sins is to be PROCLAIMED in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24, 46 to 48. It is sad to say that much of our preaching these days and especially in this part of the world can be summed up with one word: PROSPERITY. We now play down on the preaching of repentance so much that Christians today do not believe anymore that there is anything like sin.

Even when miracles happen in our churches today, it is an opportunity for the man of God to raise his or her personal ego and appear more like a god before the church members. We no longer see miracles as occasions to preach the message of repentance instead we give ourselves extra titles. Just take a look at our first reading this morning. After Peter and John cured the man at the Beautiful Gate who was crippled from birth, the people gathered and here what Peter said:

“You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. "And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.  REPENT THEREFORE, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out…” Acts 3, 12 to 19.

Peter takes glory away from himself and directs the attention of the crowd to Jesus. He knew the miracle had captured their attention and he decided to convict them of their sin of crucifying Jesus and then, he asked them to repent and turn to God. It takes a lot of courage to tell people their sins because no one likes to hear that his or her mouth is smelling; no one likes to hear the truth. We have lost a consciousness of sin and Christianity has become an avenue of coping with harsh economic realities in our society today. All we want to hear is how God will bless me, prosper me and grant me riches, how I will not die or fall sick, how I will marry early, win a big contract or carry my baby and so on but the truth must be said: REPENT TODAY AND STOP INDULGING IN SIN. Seek First God’s kingdom and his righteousness and every other thing shall be added unto you.

Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, give me courage to preach like Peter did and humility never to direct attention to myself when you work through me. Amen.


God bless you. Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. Happy Last day in the month of March and please no “April Fools” tomorrow! 

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