Monday, Octave of Easter: Peter's Bombshell Testimony

 Monday, Octave of Easter: Peter's Bombshell Testimony
Bombshell testimonies seem to emerge on a monthly basis in some part of the news media. Someone brings out new information that connects the dots to bring a whole new level of awareness about issues in our world. In today's first reading, (Acts 2:14, 22-33) Peter has emerged from the Upper Room after having received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Full of divine wisdom, knowledge, courage and understanding, he steps forward and connects the dots to show that all the writings of the psalms and prophets point to Jesus. Then Peter drops the bombshell – that Jesus is risen!

“God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses.
Exalted at the right hand of God, he poured forth the promise of the Holy Spirit that he received from the Father, as you both see and hear.”

Acts tells us that after this “about three thousand were added to their number that day;” (Ac 2:41) thousands more will be added in the days, months and years ahead. Boom. God's word, preached in the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit is a bombshell.

The psalm response (Ps 16) is one of my favourites. I have always taken comfort in its message that God would preserve and protect those who would take refuge in Him. In the first reading, Peter tells us that everything David wrote about in this psalm prophesies Christ's relationship with the Father and His resurrection from the dead. We who are united to the crucified and risen Jesus through Baptism also partake of these promises – every one of them. It is a beautiful psalm, worth meditating on, because it truly applies to us who belong to Christ.

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; I say to the LORD, 'My Lord are you.'
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot.
I bless the LORD who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.

The bombshells continue in today's Gospel. (Mt 28:8-15) Mary Magdalen and “the other Mary” have gone to Jesus' tomb. There has been an earthquake, and an angel has rolled away the stone, frightening the soldiers posted to guard the place (“The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.” Mt 28:4). The angel tells the women, “Jesus... is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.” (Mt 28:6-7) The Gospel reading begins by telling us that the Risen Jesus meets them as they are running with fear and joy to bring the good news to His disciples:

They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.'”

The Gospel story shifts to the shaken guards, who approach the chief priests and are paid to keep quiet about what they've seen.

“You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.' And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.' The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.”

Christ is risen, just as the psalms and prophets foretold! This is the bombshell truth that informs our lives as followers of Jesus. Happy Easter!