As he was hanging on to Peter and John,
all the people ran together to them,
in the Portico called after Solomon –
utterly amazed.
When Peter saw (this)
he responded the people:
‘Fellow Israelites,
who do you marvel at this,
or why do you stare at us
as if by our own power or godliness
we made him walk?
The God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,
the god of our fathers
glorified his servant, Jesus,
whom you all handed over,
and you denied
before Pilate,
though he had decided
to release him.
You denied the Holy One and Righteous One
and you asked for a murderer to be given to you.
You killed the ‘leader to life’
whom God raised from the dead people,
of which we are witnesses.
And, on the basis of faith upon his name –
that name has made this man strong
whom you know see and know
– the faith
which comes through him (Jesus)
gave him
perfect health
in front of you all.
God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.