Acts 3:12-19 (NRSV)
Read Acts 3:12-19 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, "You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? Verse 13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. Verse 14But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, Verse 15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. Verse 16And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. Verse 17"And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. Verse 18In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Verse 19Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,
Devotion
A few years ago, just before Thanksgiving, I attended a workshop on how to talk to family members who use racist language and tropes. Interfamilial arguments often turn nasty. Siblings sling gripes and grudges at one another like sticks and stones. How does one avoid such traps and still disrupt and defuse speech that hurts and derides? The workshop leader advised participants to be active listeners, to be gentle, to lead with love.
In his sermon, Peter is the family member who hurls angry words at his Jewish siblings, accusing them of murdering Jesus: “you killed the Author of life.” The horrors of the Holocaust demonstrate the horrific legacy of such accusations.
How do we listen to Peter with gentleness and love while defusing his sharp accusation and confront the hate to which it has contributed? Peter, surprisingly, shows us the way, “Repent…and turn to God so your sins will be wiped out.” We and Peter need to heed his words.
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Prayer
Holy and merciful God, turn toward us this day, that we might turn toward you in repentance and gratitude. Teach us to listen. Treat us gently so that we might be gentle. Love us so that we may lead with love. Amen.