First Reading: Acts 3:11-26; Psalm: 8. R. v. 2ab; Gospel: Lk 24:35-48

GUILT AND REPENTANCE

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

The healing of the crippled man at the beautiful gate attracted a lot of crowd as the healed man clung to Peter and John. This was a man that was very familiar to the people because he always sat at the gate of the temple to beg. The people knew with all certainty that this man was crippled for as long as they knew him. But what they couldn’t explain was how he suddenly began to walk. There was certainly a supernatural power behind this. And so they gathered around Peter and John probably to see more wonders or to understand the source of their healing power.

Peter ceased this moment to preach to the people. He told them that it was by the name of Jesus whom they killed that this lame man was restored to health. He then tried to douse their feelings of guilt by stating that he knew that they killed Jesus out of ignorance. But they would have to repent and turn to God so as to be saved. With the miracle that accompanied this preaching of Peter, the listening crowd felt remorseful and repented.

Sometimes we wished we never made some mistakes in life. We wish we can erase the past to start again on a fresh page. But our past should not bother us so much because God is not interested in it and would not want us to continually wallow in guilt. Once we truly repent from our sins, our pasts are completely erased and we can begin again on a fresh page. God is so much interested in our salvation. This was why the death of Jesus wasn’t the end of it all. The apostles of Jesus had to take it up from there to preach salvation through Jesus Christ. Just as the voice of Peter warned today, we need to repent and turn to God.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Risen Lord, we pray for the grace of repentance. Amen.