Third Sunday of Easter 2008. A     Print print this page                 
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in the first reading Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, was able to explain to the people
that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was indeed the Christ.
The people had a change of heart, felt remorse,
and asked the apostles what they should do.
And here we see the influence of the Holy Spirit very clearly.
The apostles did not say to the people:
you have to pay for what you have done; watch us,
we now have the power to show you who we are,
we’ll make you regret what you did, we’ll strike you blind
in the name of Jesus, we’ll make you lame in the name of Jesus;
you’ll carry a curse for generations for what you have done.

NO! Instead they said, repent of what you have done,
receive forgiveness through baptism
and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Instead of retribution and revenge they offered the people great gifts.

In the past they killed the prophets
and still God begged them to listen to him.
He likened his relationship with the people of Israel
to a faithful husband’s to his unfaithful wife saying to her,
come back, please come back all is forgiven, all is forgotten.
Here even the rejecting, torturing and killing of his Son
did not call down retribution but the gift of baptism
and the Holy Spirit.

The real life example of Jesus was before their eyes.
He was meek and humble, always using his powers
for the good of others, healing and forgiving,
praying and remaining poor.

His life is a challenge to all of us, let us accept it every day
and pray that we may succeed in becoming saint ourselves.  

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