What a dramatic, world-changing story we have witnessed from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. We killed God and God still loves us. We have tried as much as possible to distance ourselves from God, and he returns!! We performed the most heinous, unthinkable act by crucifying the author of life on a cross but still we are offered peace and love.

Once he is raised from the dead, the first thing he offers is peace (Shalom). Peace of God, that surpasses all understanding; universal wellbeing that nothing else in this world can offer us.

This is why He willingly gave up his life for us. This peace is what people longed for throughout the Old Testament since the betrayal as portrayed in the story of Adam & Eve. It is in this way our Lord Jesus becomes our Saviour and one who takes away the sin of the world.
After all he did for us, he only asks to repent of our sin, recognise the damage we have done to God, to this world and to our loved ones and ask for God’s forgiveness. Yet he does not force it on us, because God values our freedom, he does not impose anything on us, yet for those who come to him in Repentance, he provides this ultimate gift of peace (shalom) on earth and eternal life.
We so often tend to miss this key message of Repentance and for- giveness of sins, although the call to repentance is the first message of the 4 key figures of the New Testament. First, John the Baptist then Jesus Christ, followed by Saint Peter and Saint Paul, all of them called people to repent.

One of the greatest gifts of the Catholic Church is the sacrament of reconciliation where we not only give the truth of our hearts to God but receive the grace to pick ourselves up from our fallen state and live in the Spirit. By the power of the Holy Spirit we receive the grace to deepen our relationship with the Risen Lord discern and do God’s will in all things, as the Lord Jesus did and obey the final command He gave us “Love one another as I love you.” St. John 15:12

Prayer: Abba Father, we pray we will be drawn to repentance of sin and turn our hearts to you, so that we may have peace that surpasses all understanding. Amen