Word to the Wise
Friday, April 1, 2016 - Octave of Easter - Fri
[Acts 4:1-12 and John 21:1-14]FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2016 FRIDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER [Acts 4:1-12 and John 21:1-14] "There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved." [Acts] Peter's words in the Acts of the Apostles are repeated by many as a way of sending millions to hell. But those words were not intended for that purpose. Not even the apostles would have claimed that a person who never heard of Jesus had been created simply for the purpose of going to hell! Yet there are "Christian" preachers who believe that God has just picked only those who know about and accept Jesus and the rest are thrown away. Such is NOT the teaching of our own Catholic tradition. Peter was addressing the elite of Jerusalem who found his preaching intolerable because he was saying that a carpenter from Nazareth in Galilee was the messiah. What's more, this Jesus had been crucified as a criminal and yet Peter was claiming that God had raised this person from the dead. Finally, Peter was claiming that Jesus is the source of salvation for all the world. Put yourself in their place. What would you think? Peter proclaimed the truth that we believe. This truth has endured every kind of attack for more than 2,000 years. At the same time, not everyone will participate in the knowledge of this truth to the same degree because the preaching is subject to human limitations. These limitations do not affect God's mercy and salvation. No human holds the keys to hell. What we do hold is a precious truth that our baptismal commitment challenges us to preach so that others can participate. That's our job. Salvation is God's job. AMEN