Moved to Conversion
In today's first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (2:36-41), Peter speaks to the Jewish people on the day of Pentecost saying "...God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." In other words, they have crucified and killed the Lord and the Christ. The Scriptures tell us that " they were cut to the heart " upon hearing this. Cut to the heart. What does that mean? Perhaps we could understand "cut to the heart" as feeling hurt, pain, guilty, remorseful, shocked, or a multitude and combination of related emotions. It could also have brought emotions of anger. However, what is more important is how the people chose to respond to this very real emotion they were feeling. Were their hearts softened? Hardened? Fortunately some asked Peter, " What are we to do, my brothers? " That feeling of being cut to the heart moved the peoples' hearts to conversion. It was most likely the work of the Holy Spirit se...