Please read the passage before the commentary.
Peter said, “let the whole house of Israel know with absolute certainty that God has made both Lord and Mesiah this Jesus you had crucified.”
Why was Peter announcing to those had killed Jesus the resurrection of Jesus? Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God had forgiven all the sins of the world. We have to admit our sins in order to know that forgiveness. “Yes, I have sinned, but I am sorry for my sin, Now I can enjoy the mercy of God.”
All who come to the sacrament of penance want to know that God has pardoned their sins. Already by his death and resurrection Christ has forgiven all the sins of every person.
The people of Israel were like that had gone astray. We ourselves often are like sheep that have gone astray. Jesus by his death and resurrection has become the shepherd and guardian of our souls. When the people of Israel acknowledged their sins, they repented and received that pardon that Jesus had won for them through his death and resurrection.
We have already received the forgiveness of our sins, but we have to admit that we have done them. Then when the priest says, “I absolve you of your sins” he is saying “I proclaim the God in Christ already has forgiven the sins through his death and resurrection. Go in peace.”
The promises of God are valid for all the people of the world, for all Jewish people, for all Muslims. For all pagans, for all of you without exception.
Why was Peter announcing this to those had killed Jesus the resurrection of Jesus in order to announce the forgiveness of their sins, that God wanted to grant because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. We announce our sins for the same reason, to know the forgiveness of our sins that Christ has, already forgiven and which he wants us to receive.
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