October 6

Acts 2:36-47
36 Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified." 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" 38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Peter’s sermon is heard. The hearers respond with a question. What should we do? Peter’s response is simple, Repent and be baptized. In this your sins are forgiven and the Holy Spirit is at work in your life. In other words, turn or change your life and be baptized into the Jesus community. The call to follow Jesus is not simply saying yes to Jesus and continuing life as before. This Jesus community will be different from what you have known.

It is true that each of us brings our personal sins to the cross of Jesus. In that cross we receive forgiveness that the gift of the Holy Spirit for new life. The fact is that forgiveness is not the goal. It is a means to the goal. The goal is the reign of God and the community of God’s people. As our culture becomes more individualistic, we miss the power and the benefits of coming together into a community in which we share the gifts that God has given the community through us. We were created for relationships with God and with God’s creation. The church becomes the sign of this reality.

In a day when individuals are concerned about their legacy, the early church is a community where everyone’s possessions are used to insure that the needs of all are met. This is not a political philosophy. It is a community that takes its call from God seriously and devotes itself to it.

Reflection questions:
1. What gets in our way of seeing the community of faith as the primary support community?
2. From what do you need to repent?
3. From what should the church call the world to repent?