Third Sunday in Easter (Year B)

April 23, 2009

1st Reading: Acts of the Apostles 3,13-15.17-19.
The God of Abraham, (the God) of Isaac, and (the God) of Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence, when he had decided to release him.
You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.
Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did;
but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.
Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away,
Psalms 4,2.4.7.9.
Answer when I call, my saving God. In my troubles, you cleared a way; show me favor; hear my prayer.
Know that the LORD works wonders for the faithful; the LORD hears when I call out.
Many say, “May we see better times! LORD, show us the light of your face!” Selah
In peace I shall both lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me secure.
2nd Reading: First Letter of John 2,1-5.
My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his command ments.
Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 24,35-48.
Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?
Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.”
And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
They gave him a piece of baked fish;
he took it and ate it in front of them.
He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.
And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
Sermon Thoughts:

We are in the 3^rd week of Easter. We are experiencing each time the Apostles, who are experiencing the Resurrected Jesus in their life in a progressive way.

In the readings of this Sunday liturgy, we come across with the same.

To understand this progress, we must go through the texts in a reversed way.

This reversed way can be chronologically right.

At first we see the Gospel text.

There we meet Jesus and Apostles. Jesus wishes Peace for his disciples.

The text says:

“But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?

”

We see here people, who are really uncertain of their future.

Jesus tries to make the situation little bit easier and informal with his words:

“Have you anything here to eat?”

Even though they share time and food with Jesus, the Risen Lord, they are still certain of their future.

By entrusting the Proclamation mission, he want to make them sure of their call; their life to come.

Now we see in the Acts, another face of the disciples.

They are courageous enough to proclaim Jesus’ relevance in the Salvation History

and his originality and continuity of the mission of his forefathers.

They are even courageous to say to Jews:

“You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.”

But the beauty of the text is at the end – passage:

“Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did; but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away…”

This is the special Grace – To forgive and reconcile with their “enemies”- that the Apostles acquired from theRisen Christ.

From his life style.

From following Jesus for last 3 years.

This is also the work of the Holy Spirit,

they received through Jesus,

through their prayerful and painful ways…

The same pattern is followed by the apostle of Divine Love, St John.

He says:

“My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.”

He shows the limitless mercy of Jesus, the Eternal Teacher of Mercy.

And he completes it by saying: “He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.”

Yes, through Jesus, everyone is worthy to receive this “life”.

It is no more reserved for Jews.

Salvation is now “universal”.

It is “catholic” for all…

St John doesn’t forget to assert his “master word”.

“But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:”

Yes, Resurrected Jesus moves his disciples to Humanity, Love and Mercy.

This is not reserved for some. This experience is open for all.

Just as John says, we must be able to keep HIS Word,

in Love,

in His Blessed Spirit.

“Resurrection” can be “experienced” with that Spirit.

We too can change a lot, as the Apostles could.

With Love, Humanity and Mercy we can “give life to our World”.

Let’s try for it, together with the Apostles. Amen!