Word to the Wise
Tuesday, April 3, 2018 - Octave of Easter - Tues
[Acts 2:36-41 and John 20:11-18]TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018 - TUESDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER [Acts 2:36-41 and John 20:11-18] Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” [Acts] Peter’s words to the people, who ask what they must do to respond to the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, show a bit more development than that immediate experience would dictate, since it took awhile for the community to get its act together and require baptism. Peter is speaking just after the event of Pentecost. But these words give a simple instruction as to what faith demanded by way of action. Since we who are “cradle Catholics” receive baptism as infants, we miss out on the excitement of this moment. We have to ask our brothers and sisters who come to baptism later in life what this is like. Baptism seems like an historical event to us that we can prove by a certificate. But it is much more than that. It is a present power in us that can enable us to preach just as Peter did. We have the benefit of 2000+ years of faithful preaching about the death and resurrection of Jesus. We are not in the position of Mary Magdalen in today’s gospel scripture. She is shocked and confused and not able to recognize Jesus standing in front of her until he speaks her name. At baptism, the church asks for the name of the child to be baptized. The celebrant then greets the child by name and claims it for Christ. Each of us has been called by name by the Risen Lord, baptized into his death and resurrection, and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is what we offer to others as well when we live Christian life faithfully. Eastertime is simply a reminder of what we could be doing all year long. AMEN
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