April 6, 2010
Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
By Beth DeCristofaro
Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)
Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17)
Piety
“May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within. May the blessed sunlight shine upon you and warm your heart till it glows, like a great peat fire, so that the stranger may come and warm himself at it, as well as the friend. And may the light shine out of the eyes of you, like a candle set in the windows of a house, bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm…” (From a Celtic blessing.)
Study
Not long before Peter spoke to the crowds in Acts 2, he had denied Jesus then hid with the other disciples in fear for their lives. Now he speaks with inspiration, power and certainty, putting together the Old Testament stories and prophecies which he and his listeners certainly knew and which point to the Christ. Jesus’ resurrection and bestowal of the Spirit upon the disciples opened Peter’s eyes to understand what the burning in his heart had been, and to propel Peter to share Jesus’ story and promise with the world.
Jesus’ words to Mary are so interesting. “Stop holding on to me…” In the Gospel of Matthew … Jesus met (the women) on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. (Matthew 28:9) In both Gospels, Jesus enjoins them to “go and tell my brothers.” The NAB says: “The Father of Jesus will now become the Father of the disciples because, once ascended, Jesus can give them the Spirit that comes from the Father and they can be reborn as God's children (John 3:5). That is why he calls them my brothers.”
Today, as we, too, are brothers and sisters of Jesus, the Christ, we are enjoined to go and tell. It seems to me that in the words “Stop holding on to me,” Jesus wants us to know that he is already with us, that it is for us to be with those who need the saving power of the Word. Let our prayer embolden and deepen our relationship with Jesus so that we can “go and tell” in love and service.
Action
What Good News, what gift from the Spirit did you receive during your journey of Lent? Today, reflect upon that and let it fill your heart and spirit so that you might go and tell. As Fr. Bob of “Fr. Bob’s Lenten Messages” from Holy Family Parish in Portland, OR says: “Our world is so in need of Jesus’ gifts, and they can only be given through us.”
