CONVICTION
28TH APRIL 2022
ACTS 5:27-33
PSALM 34:2.9.17-20
JOHN 3:31-36
In Today’s First Reading, the apostles were doing what they
believed they were commissioned by Jesus to do. Let us
remember that Jesus told them, as recorded in Luke 24:45-48
that they are witnesses of His suffering and resurrection, and
that in His name the message of repentance and of the
forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations.
Unfortunately, this conflicted with what others believed and
lived.
In this particular instance, the witness the apostles gave
conflicted with the idea of the Jewish leadership in
Jerusalem. The authorities tell them, “We strictly charged
you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled
Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this
man’s blood upon us.”
It is clear that the authorities do not want them to mention
the name of Jesus but the disciples still mention it.
Have you ever found yourself in such a situation? You
sincerely want to engage yourself in a faith related issue but
circumstances seem to be against you.
Here, Peter and the other apostles sincerely want to give or
to bear witness to the fact that Jesus died and rose from
death and is seated at God’s right hand to offer repentance
and forgiveness of sins but opposition from the high priest
and his council stand in their way.
How many times have you believed that you should love,
forgive, repent, help others, speak the truth, speak out
against injustice or offer others opportunity for growth but
other people seem to be against what you want to do?
Initially, the disciples of Jesus never understood His teachings
and mission including His suffering, death and resurrection to
the point of deserting Him, betraying Him and denying Him.
But the apostles now talk in a manner that shows that they
now believe in what they earlier on never believed in. They
are now acting in conviction and it is their conviction that
acts as an impetus for them to do what they believed in.
Spiritually and in other spheres of life, we need conviction to
be able to do and say things that are worthy. All endeavors
that lack conviction are without substance and are bound to
fail, no wonder Paul writes to Timothy, “I have done my best
in the race, I have run the full distance and I have kept the faith and now there is a victory prize waiting for me.” 2
Timothy 4:7-8
These are words of somebody talking out of conviction. The
word conviction comes from a Latin root meaning
overcoming or conquering. What have the apostles
conquered? They have conquered their past unstable life.
Conviction is not about simply projecting our own desires
and prejudices.
Conviction is not about serving our interests. It is about
believing in and accomplishing what is true and positive; it is
about promoting freedom rather than confinement,
repentance and forgiveness rather than murder and revenge
and just like the apostles witnessed to all these, we the
church today, are also called to live in this conviction.
What are you convinced about, and what are you doing
about it. Conviction is action oriented because it shows who
you are and what you believe in and what you are made of
and where your allegiance lies.
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