_“They were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the
apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’” *(Acts 2:37)*_
Today’s first reading is the concluding part of Peter’s sermon on the
life of Christ. Luke tells us that the audience was “cut to the heart.” As Peter
spoke, the words became “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and
discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12). The
people asked Peter, “What are we to do?”
Peter, the simple fisherman who did not attend a university preached and
thousands were converted. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. He not only
prepared the words in Peter’s mouth but also softened the hearts of the
listeners to accept the message.
When the people asked Peter what they were to do, Peter made just one
request: “Repent and be baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins… Save yourself from this crooked generation.” This is
the same message for us today in this time of the pandemic.
Dear friends, it doesn’t matter what your past has been. Our Psalmist
today sings: “His merciful love fills the earth.” Receive the forgiveness and
mercy offered by God this season of Easter, repent from your sinful ways and
live every day as though it were your last.
Consider the fact that this same Peter whose sermon converted three
thousand had a past. He denied Jesus three times but unlike Judas, Peter accepted
Jesus’ forgiveness, he repented, picked up his cross and began again. There
comes a time in our own lives when we have to stop crying over our past faults
and mistakes.
There comes a time when we have clean the tears in our eyes so that we
can see clearly what is before us. Mary Magdalene could not recognize Jesus
because of the tears in her eyes. She thought he was the gardener. Judas
Iscariot cried so much that he failed to see the loving gaze of Jesus. In his desperation,
Judas hung himself.
Let go of your past. Dry your tears. God wants to use you. Mary
Magdalene had a past but it was to her Jesus said: “Go and tell my brethren and
say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your
God.” God wants to work through you. God has a message you can help him deliver.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, free me from guilt and use me mightily as your
instrument to spread your word to the ends of the earth. Fill me with your Holy
Spirit. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless
you. Tuesday of Easter Octave. Bible Study: Acts 2:36-41, Psalm 33 and John
20:11-18
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