Boldness

Readings for Monday April 13, 2009

First Reading:  Acts 2:14, 22-33

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 16

Gospel:  Matthew 28:8-15

On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: "You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem.  Let this be known to you, and listen to my words

"You who are children of Israel, hear these words.
Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.
This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.
But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it.  (Acts 2:14, 22-24)

Here it is Pentecost, and we have Peter preaching to many unbelieving jews in Jerusalem.  Wait a second, is this the same Peter that ran from the garden and denied Christ three times?  You bet, this former fisherman with no previous formal schooling, no leadership training, and no public speaking seminars is up in front of a stubborn group preaching the gospel; and not just preaching, but proclaiming the good news with boldness.  This is just one of the many examples of how God takes someone unexpected and uses them to proclaim the glory of His Son.  Peter would probably not been chosen by most people to be the first pope, but Christ saw something in him, something that He knew He could use.  God knows where our hearts are at, and if our hearts are right, there is nothing that He cannot do through us.  

God is ready to continue doing amazing things in our lives.  Perhaps you are thinking, "who am I" or "I am not good enough for God's work."  Expel those thoughts immediately!  We are all sons and daughters of God, and that alone makes us good enough to do the work that He calls us to.  Let us not ever limit God in our lives, for nothing is impossible with God.  If we open our hearts to Him, and let the Holy Spirit work, then bold actions will happen through us as well.  May we all be granted the courage and the change of hearts needed to allow the boldness of God to take  place in our lives.     

Father above, we thank you and praise you for this day.  Lord, send us your spirit so that we may go out and proclaim your glory with boldness and with love.  Lord, you are a mighty and awesome God, may we never try to limit you in our lives.  Lord, we pray for all those in need of conversion and all those seeking you.  We ask this all through Christ our Lord.  Amen.