"For you first, God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you
by turning each of you from your evil ways.”
In today's first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Saint Peter speaks compassionately and directly to the startled citizens of Jerusalem. He connects the dots between several recent, apparently disparate incidents beginning with the healing of this crippled man and working backwards to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and further back to their religious traditions. He not only creates a narrative from stories they have heard, he shows them their part in it with very stern words,
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,
the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus,
whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence,
when he [Pilate] had decided to release him.
You denied the Holy and Righteous One
and asked that a murderer be released to you.
The author of life you put to death,
but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.
Despite his proclamation of their guilt, Peter announces Good News to the City in the spirit of Bethlehem's angels,
"...for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."
As a result of his proclamation, the Christian community burgeoned to "five thousand men."
Christian preachers don't always meet that friendly reception when they name sins from the pulpit. Abortion, suicide, drug abuse, adultery, hostility toward immigrants, inordinate attachment to guns, pets, alcohol or shopping: these topics often meet resistance. Many people cannot imagine life without their accessories. Questioning these attachments doesn't sound like an invitation to freedom but an unacceptable condemnation. More than once I have been called aside by an upset parishioner, or received anonymous rebukes in the mail for such remarks.
As this story in the Acts of the Apostles continues beyond today's reading, however, we learn that Jerusalem was not entirely ready for conversion. The authorities arrived, keepers of the status quo:
While they were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them, disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening.
Christians often like to recite a wise witticism, "The gospel comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable." The same witty Christians are eager to be comforted as they consider themselves afflicted by all their worries and concerns.
But the Gospel, more often, invites us to recognize and take responsibility for our sins. With the people of Jerusalem we can say, "We have sinned like our ancestors; we have done wrong and are guilty."
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.