Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Thursday within Easter Octave, 24-04-14

Acts 3:11-26 / Luke 24:35-48

We may have heard about the recent news of the discovery of the computer bug called "Heartbleed".

It is causing anxiety and panic because that bug seems to steal passwords from server sites and that can cause accounts to be hacked into and also give rise to identity thefts.

As the name of the bug goes, it really makes our heart bleed because we are so dependent on the internet nowadays and passwords are a form of security for our internet accounts.

In the 1st reading, we heard that Peter and John got the attention of the excited crowd by working a miracle of healing a crippled man.

Peter took to opportunity to preach about Jesus and how they accused Him and had Him killed.

When the people heard this "they were cut to the heart" (Acts 2:37). But of course Peter didn't leave them there with their hearts bleeding.

Peter also consoled them by saying that neither they nor their leaders had any idea what they were really doing. Also it was the way God carried out what He had foretold, that Christ would suffer.

In the gospel, when Jesus appeared to His disciples, He also didn't make their hearts bleed for what they had done to Him in His hour of need.

Rather He healed their hearts and opened their minds to understand the scriptures so that they can see how it was written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.

Furthermore, in the name of Jesus, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations.

Our hearts bleed because of our sins. Jesus wants to forgive our sins and heal our hearts. May we be witnesses of His healing love and may we bring that love to others.