Homily for Tuesday within the Octave of Easter Year A
Theme: Stop Living in Regret, God Wants to Work Through You.
By: Fr. Evaristus Abu
Homily for Tuesday April 14 2020
Tuesday 14th April 2020. Read Acts 2:36-41, Psalm 33 and John 20:11-18.
“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).