Responding to the Word

The Daily Prayer of the Church continues with the Acts of the Apostles and we hear how the people reacted to Peter’s proclamation of the Good News of Jesus:

 

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. (Acts 2:37-47).

 

After they hear the Good News, the people repent, are baptized, their sins are forgiven, they received the Holy Spirit and the way they lived changed.  Unlike the selfish and corrupt generation that surrounded them where people were trying to take advantage of each other (sound familiar?), the followers of Jesus “were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. The Good News of Jesus transforms lives.

 

Let us pray:  Loving God, open our hearts with your Holy Spirit for us to hear and to act on the Good News of Jesus’ call to repent and to believe in the Good News.  Amen.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550