Several years ago, I was stopped at a red light, & just before we started to go, I was rear-ended. We both pulled over to the side of the road, along with a man who witnessed the event. He said, “if you need support in telling what happened, here’s my contact info. What relief! It wasn’t just going to be my word to testify to the truth: I had a partner in the truth.  

Our Scriptures are FILLED with witnesses, testifying to what God was doing in them and others. Peter does some serious witnessing in the Reading from Acts of the Apostles. & By the way: did you know that the Acts of the Apostles is part TWO of St. Luke’s work: first his Gospel & then Acts. And the truth is that we know Peter was not always a reliable witness on behalf of Jesus’ mission work: in fact, Peter denied Jesus 3 times before Jesus died; Peter also struggled with fears & doubts. So, what happened? What changed? Who empowered Peter to surrender his fear & doubt, & become a witness? We know the answer is God, Jesus, & the Holy Spirit.  

Peter ALSO knew what we know: when you betray someone, you need to apologize. The Gospel says Peter cried after his 3 denials: he knew right away what he’d done & not done. But the Risen Christ appeared to many disciples, such as M Magdalene, as well as the travelers on the Road to Emmaus, featured in today’s Gospel. Jesus assured them all with good news: He was NOT dead, but alive. & there is another great lesson for all of us: the Risen Jesus Christ did NOT hold grudges against those who betrayed him or ran away.  As we learned last week on Divine Mercy Sunday, Jesus is God’s Second/32^nd Chance for us all! In fact, the RISEN Christ gave Peter the opportunity to repent of his denials, so Peter could go forward. Do you recall the section of John’s Gospel, when Jesus asks Peter 3 times: “Do you love me?” & Peter said: “Jesus, I love you; I DO love you; you know everything: you KNOW I love you.” For Peter’s 3 denials, Peter confesses his sorrow 3 times, & receives Christ’s forgiveness & healing love.

So, what does a Christian witness look like in the 21^st century? What’s a Christian do all week? For one thing, Peter had his Christ eyes opened: Christ challenged & corrected Peter to bring peace & civility to the world, NOT road rage or any other kind of rage, & certainly not bitter hatred or revenge. Think about how FREE we would feel if we could eliminate that JUNK & GUNK that sometimes is rolling around in our minds or hearts. We can take a dose of Christ’s mercy, & put it into practice in our family, community, work situation, school, recreation & other groups. We can bring Christ everywhere!            

& before anyone lets him or herself off the hook & says: I can’t be a witness: I’m not good enough, honest enough, worthy enough, I say to all of that: NOT SO FAST! Our brother Paul the Apostle, whose name was once Saul, killed Christians, persecuted them, & was the most negative & mean man you could meet. But the risen Christ healed his heart, freed Paul from anger, & planted divine enthusiasm in him.  & then: NOTHING could hold Paul back: he was ON FIRE FOR CHRIST! The same can be true for us all as Christ’s witnesses: when we let divine joy come alive in us, even if it takes some attitude adjustments. You know those attitude adjustments that are needed, even if you’ve never admitted it to God or anyone else! & then, we will be like the travelers in the Gospel: we too will be amazed at what the Risen Christ can do in us, & what we and Christ are able to do together in his name. That’s right: I said TOGETHER: you and Jesus, the Risen Christ: partners in making a MUCH better world. Alleluia!