Monday, May 13 (April 30), 2024
Acts 3:19-26; Jn. 2:1-11

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” [Acts 3:19].  That’s what St. Peter was saying to the Jews who had crucified the Lord, encouraging them, for they had done it out of ignorance.  As far as we are concerned, we are crucifying Him again and again by our own sins in full knowledge ─ yet the Most Merciful Lord receives us also when we repent and convert, coming to Him with the fullness of our hearts.

That’s what we did during past Great Lent.  We have come to the Lord in tears of repentance over our sins, and the more sincerely we did that, the clearer was the message of forgiveness emerging from the Lord in the Sacrament of Absolution. What’s next?  Let us be careful, lest we fall again, and again become liable for crucifying the Lord. 

St. Peter says that the heaven received the Lord Jesus only “until the times of restitution of all things” [Acts 3:21]; then He will come again to judge the people.  How will those who pierced His side dare to look at Him?...  However, we too will have to be among them if we fail to bring forth the fruits of repentance and return to our old sinful ways.

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