For eight days the Church celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead! On this Thursday within the Octave in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles we hear the continuation of St. Peter's Pentecost sermon. We turn to the upcoming celebration of Pentecost during the celebration of Easter Day because the two are intimately linked.
Today Peter tells the Jewish people some historically based facts: that the Christ, Jesus, was the one proclaimed by all of the prophets of their people from the beginning; that the prophecies especially of his suffering and death would include them in a very direct way; and that his resurrection from the dead would be a surety and something that would have a great effect upon them – if they were cooperative.
It was part of the plan for the Jewish people to reject and kill Jesus, but it was also part of God's plan for them to have redemption available to them with their cooperation: the cooperation of repentance and faith! God is indeed sad when we end up alienated from him, but he is very happy in the route we take to reconnect with him – if that is our desire!
The route is, and must be, faith in Jesus Christ – Messiah – Savior – Redeemer!
Jesus reaction to what the Jewish people and the Romans did to him was to offer peace: "Peace be with you!" he said when he appeared in their midst. And then he ate fish with them (a symbol of his own flesh and blood) and he explained the Scriptures to them and opened their minds to the understanding of them: about how he was meant to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day; and how repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached, in his name, to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
All of us stand in need of repenting, to some degree, each day of our lives! But we rejoice that God's love, mercy and forgiveness are available now to us because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, any time we ask – any time we repent – any time we turn to Jesus and follow in his steps!
Thank you, Jesus, for providing an option for us always – so that we can select the most direct route that leads to you, in the Kingdom!
This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it!
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