Today’s first readings in Acts chapter 2, reminds us that we will be blessed and forgiven with our family & household. We need repentance & baptism. God promises forgiveness to us and to our family. God’s love is so great that the people we care about matters to Him as well.
God is our family. We are part of his church. We matter to Him.
All the smallest details of our life is important to God.
God will never leave us behind as we are his family.
As catholics, we have a sacrament of Baptism. And in our church tradition, we start when young. Young children are newly welcomed into the spiritual family, the Church, early on. I participated as one of the god mothers of this baptized child. As god parents, we are helping this child in her Christian faith.
First Reading Acts 2:36-41
36Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38And 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 shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
what does the verse mean to me?
“let all the house of Israel know” is a strong call to peoople.
A house means all family members of 3 generations (grandfather to grand son). In earlier times, people live within their house.
We can see Peter’s leadership, thru preaching to all Israel that Jesus is the messiah whom they crucified (sentenced to death).
crucifixion: from Roman times, even mentioned today by some countries in middle east as possible, worst type of punishment.
The words of Peter had cut the hearts of his audience.
What is wonderful is that they called Peter & apostles ” brother “. They wanted to do something to compensate for what they had done to Jesus. All is not lost.
Peter said:
1.Repent first from your sins.
2.Then undergo baptism in the name of Jesus (no other name)
This is the first time Peter is mentioning baptism to early converts.
Baptism as a rite performed to adult men at this time as a symbol of being a new believer of Christ.
Peter promised:
1. forgiveness of sins
2. recieving the gifts of Holy Spirit due to repentance & baptism
3.promises extend to children & family members far away from us.
How can these people ignore such promises?
so 3000 people were baptized that day.
Take note: we only have 12 apostles including Peter to baptize 3000. Think about the effort of the apostles.
With God: It is all about the family
This is how much He loves us.
He doesnt just love you alone. He also loves the people you care about.
It is like a package deal. You and your family will be blessed & forgiven.
Your forgiveness from God extends to your family members.
God’s mercy is not limited to one person.
Such promises can be traced back from the Old Testament.
Do not say “I alone can be saved”.
That is a selfish, self righteous attitude.
We must study the bible from the Old Testament to fully understand, that the family has an effect on us & vice versa.
What you do can affect your family and the future generations.
If you repent, your family and the future generations will be blessed.
We can not say we are forgiven and every one goes to hell because they are sinners.
Blessings of the family can flow thru your repentance.
God just need 1 person in the family who repents.
You could be that person.Think about what you can remove.
Is it occult practices (horoscopes, tarot cards, superstitious beliefs, divination/knowing the future)? Is it polygamous relationships? Is it vices (alcoholism, gambling, smoking etc).
You can change something. Take small steps first.
It is like cleaning a house. It needs time. It is a process.
But you will get there.
You can remove these things that keep you away from God.
We will all get there.
For us and for our families and to the next generations.
God will forgive our entire household if we repent.
Catholic Church’s point of view: Church is a spirtual family
Along the Church tradition, Baptism as a sacrament, included young children, to wash away our guilt from original sin, inherited from Adam & Eve. Baptism is welcoming a person into the spiritual family, the Church.
A sacrament is done in important events in a Catholic Christian life. God wants to be involved in the most important events in our life.
You could be baptized when you were young or now that you are older (if not baptized earlier) & done only once.
During Easter Sunday Mass, we recite vows of renewal of baptism, to remind ourselves, what we believe in as a member of this spiritual family.
Gospel John 20:11-18
11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rab-bo’ni!” (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” 18Mary Mag’dalene went and said to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
What is the background on John Chapter 20
Mary Magdalene was also mentioned ealiest to reach the tomb. She ran to the apostles’ Peter & John & to tell them Jesus’ body is missing.
A time of sadness & despair in this part of the story.
Mary Magdalene was later on alone & looked into the tomb.
what does the verse mean to me?
Mary Magdalene was talking to not just 1 but 2 angels in white, but she did not recognized them. She was way too sad.
That is how sadness blinds us. We do not notice the work of God when we are too emotional and hopeless.
Mary Magdalene thought people have taken away Jesus’ body.
She thought the other guy was a gardener. Turns out it was Jesus.
Jesus loves to ask questions.
“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?”
“Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Even after death, Mary Magdalene follows Jesus.
Jesus called her name, “Mary.” she recognized his voice. She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rab-bo’ni!” (which means Teacher).
Jesus tells her “go to the apostles and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
Jesus wants her to carry good news & bring hope to the sad apostles.
Jesus is taking care of apostles like family. He is coming back for them.
Jesus is taking care of us right now like a family. We are his family.
Stop looking at God as a judgemental God.
We are part of His church, baptized right from the start.
There is nothing in your life, Jesus does not want to be left out or not involved with.
When you are facing trials, Jesus is with you.
Jesus truly understands what you are feeling when you are sad.
Because He knows what you are going thru.
He will never leave his family behind.
We will never be left behind by Jesus.
Jesus’ teaching: Hope
Jesus at this point is teaching Mary Magdalene, the apostles & all of us that what He promised are all true.
That we have to have hope.That Jesus defeated death.
Jesus power is love.Death can not break Jesus’ love for all of us.
Jesus is teaching us, in him, we have hope. In him we have victory.
If Jesus can defeat death, then He is unstoppable.
Why do we put our hopes on temporary things in life?
What are the things we hoped on so much, more than God?
Do we put our trust so much in our jobs? finances? Status in life? Academic achievements? Relationships and even family?
Unfortunately, all these mentioned can go away in our lives, any time.
Your relationship with Jesus, as a spiritual family will never be broken.
Death can not separate us from His love.
Do we trust on ourselves and our abilities more than God?
Jesus is teaching us, to hope in him, even against all odds.
To trust Him even if it does not make sense at all.
That we hope in Jesus even if we do not understand why we need to.
But in our hearts, we know the miracles we are waiting for will come.
Jesus is in charge.
Hope that He is truly alive in your life, in your job, family, finances, in your plans & your health.
What is broken, Jesus can fix it.He can make all things new.
He defeated death after all.
Drink Daily: God`s Word 