In the Acts of the Apostles today Peter preaches his first sermon. This is in reaction to the Spirit-filled disciples speaking in tongues. Peter interprets the action of the Spirit at Pentecost as the fulfilment of all that has happened in the gospel. He offers his hearers a summary of salvation history. Peter begins his sermon by quoting the Prophet Joel
(2:28-33). He does this to carefully show his listeners that what has been done in Jesus is consistent with what God has done and promised the people of the covenant. The reference to God’s ‘foreknowledge’ is used to emphasise that it is the Holy Spirit that is directing operations.
We cannot but smile when comparing the Peter we listen to today with the fearful Peter who, just a few days ago, ran away abandoning Jesus in his hour of need. Peter is a changed man. The resurrection of the Lord and the outpouring of the Spirit have given him a newfound boldness and passion. Notice too how, from now on and in the rest of the Acts of the Apostles, the focus of the
proclamation of Peter (and the disciples) is Jesus himself. Jesus preached the Kingdom of God in the gospels – we heard this throughout Lent. The disciples now proclaim the risen Christ. It is as if they cannot announce the Kingdom of God without first telling others through whom that Kingdom became present because they had encountered him.
In the gospel today we also meet courageous and bold women. They run from the tomb ‘with fear and great joy’ to tell the disciples that the Lord is risen. Notice how, in the very act of going to proclaim the risen Lord they encounter him and are affirmed by him.
The season of Lent and our celebration of the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus is meant to help us follow the pattern we see in the scriptures today. Our celebration of Easter reminds us that the Spirit of God has been poured into our hearts and that we too are now sent to proclaim the risen Christ. The Holy Spirit that directed Peter and the disciples is that same Spirt that
directs us. We, like the woman, ‘with fear and great joy’ are sent to tell others that the Lord has died and is risen and in so doing has redirected our lives.
In a world that is desolate, that at times offers little hope and often leaves us feeling fearful, the resurrection of Jesus and his words to the women are an antidote: ‘Do not be afraid but go and tell my brothers and sisters…’ Easter invites us to be joyful messengers of consolation and hope especially in the places and to people we know who need it most. The responsibility to bring about
the kind of community, society and world that God desires – one that we all ultimately desire – is now placed on our shoulders. The resurrection of Jesus can and will only make sense when, like Peter and the women, we share it joyfully with others. The resurrection impels us to act.
Can you, like Peter, tell others what the Lord has done for you?
To whom or in what ways can you be a joyful messenger of hope and consolation today?
