Year A: Easter Sunday

First Reading: Acts 10: 34, 37-43

Peter had not thought that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was to be proclaimed to non-Jews - but had been persuaded by a series of dreams that this was, in fact, what God wanted.

So, today, we read his testimony about Jesus.

He speaks with the authority of one who has witnessed the events that he is describing. He was with Jesus in the  journeys through the countryside and saw what He did through the power of the Spirit within Him. He witnessed the death of Jesus - and, three days later, the fact that God had raised Him to life. The resurrection was not made know to everyone - only to certain witnesses. These were people who had known Jesus well before His death and so could testify that the Risen Lord was the same person. Peter shows that the resurrection is glorious and the work of God - but that the Risen Jesus was not a ghost. He could eat and drink with them - and, again, Peter himself, has witnessed this for himself.

The words of one who has witnessed events have great authority. It is true that, in certain situations, witnesses may not remember events as they actually happened - usually because the events happened too quickly. In Peter’s case, the events unfolded over a period of years.

Jesus did not appear fleetingly only once - but several times - in various places and to different people. Each time confirmed what Peter knew to be true - Jesus was risen - and further, God had given Him the power to forgive the sin of all who believed in Him. They too could share His new life.

What does it mean for me?

Who are the people who have witnessed Jesus' new life for you? To whom do you witness your faith in Jesus?

Text © 2007 Wellspring

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