Reflection by Deacon Russ for 3rd Sunday of Easter

Three words struck me in today’s readings: repentance, forgiveness and conversion. Repent . . . and be converted. Be converted. In the first reading, Peter seems to be telling the people that forgiveness is more than just being sorry. It is about being different and living in a whole new way. I think we often tend to think of God’s forgiveness is simply the wiping clean of a slate, as if our actions are simply chalk marks on a blackboard, a kind of running tally of our accomplishments and our failures. And from time to time the check marks in our “bad” column get a little too numerous, and so we seek out God’s forgiveness so that they can be erased. And, in a certain sense, that’s not entirely misguided or incorrect. God’s gift of forgiveness does give us a kind of do-over, a fresh start, a chance to turn back the clock and begin anew. And for that, we should be truly grateful.

However, forgiveness is so much more than that. In the Gospel, Jesus says that he “would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name.” During this season of Easter, we are invited to reflect on and wrestle with exactly what Jesus’ death and resurrection means for each of us. In faith, we believe that Jesus died to heal a broken world, to bridge the gap that had grown between God and his beloved sons and daughters, to redeem and save us.

Jesus bore our sins not simply that our sins would disappear, but that our relationship with our God would be mended, healed, and strengthened. No longer would our failure to love – our unfaithfulness –permanently drive a deeper and deeper wedge between ourselves and God. Jesus’ saving act changed all that. And therefore, it’s probably more correct to say that a profound kind of reconciliation is really at the heart of true forgiveness, a reconciliation which holds out for us the possibility of a deeper and more intimate communication with our God. Perhaps that’s what conversion is all about.

Over the next several weeks we will hear passages from the Acts of the Apostles, passages which show some of the challenges faced by the early Christian community as they strove to continue Jesus’ mission – to preach as he preached, to heal as he healed, and to love as he loved. And, in many ways, their struggles are our struggles, their challenges are our challenges, their disagreements are our disagreements, their calling is our calling.

Who is this Jesus? What is he asking of us? What is he asking of me. What’s the best way to follow him? Who did Jesus die for me to be? What does it mean for him to be our Lord, my Lord. Those first believers probably wrestled with these types of questions, and we, not surprisingly, do too. When we ask these questions and sincerely long to embrace whatever answer God chooses to give, then we’re on the path to real reconciliation, real healing, real conversion, real change.

I want to have more than just wiping my slate clean. I want to be different; I want to be the loving person you created me to be. I think Peter had it exactly right. Repent . . . and be converted. Each time we seek God’s forgiveness, may we have the courage to take that next step, embracing the new, transformed life God offers.

If you have a brief faith reflection on today’s reading that you would like to share, please send it to me at deaconruss@holyspiritunoh.org.