The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate Jesus' message of peace and forgiveness and how we share the Good News in our actions.
Sharing peace and forgiveness
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles concludes the kerygma expressed by Peter and John with a call to repent and turn to God.
* [3:17] Ignorance: a Lucan motif, explaining away the actions not only of the people but also of their leaders in crucifying Jesus. On this basis the presbyters in Acts could continue to appeal to the Jews in Jerusalem to believe in Jesus, even while affirming their involvement in his death because they were unaware of his messianic dignity. See also Acts 13:27 and Lk 23:34.1
Psalm 4 is a confident plea for deliverance from enemies.
* [Psalm 4] An individual lament emphasizing trust in God. The petition is based upon the psalmist’s vivid experience of God as savior (Ps 4:2). That experience of God is the basis for the warning to the wicked: revere God who intervenes on the side of the faithful (Ps 4:3–6). The faithful psalmist exemplifies the blessings given to the just (Ps 4:7–8).2
The reading from the First Letter of John proclaims Christ as our Advocate.
* [2:3–6] The way we may be sure: to those who claim, “I have known Christ and therefore I know him,” our author insists on not mere intellectual knowledge but obedience to God’s commandments in a life conformed to the example of Christ; this confirms our knowledge of him and is the love of God…perfected. Disparity between moral life and the commandments proves improper belief.3
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus appears to His Disciples.
* [24:26] That the Messiah should suffer…: Luke is the only New Testament writer to speak explicitly of a suffering Messiah (Lk 24:26, 46; Acts 3:18; 17:3; 26:23). The idea of a suffering Messiah is not found in the Old Testament or in other Jewish literature prior to the New Testament period, although the idea is hinted at in Mk 8:31–33. See notes on Mt 26:63 and 26:67–68.4
Joe Zaborowski comments that his heart does burn with desire-at least on most days. The fact that the fire is not there all the time doesn't bother him.
In today’s Gospel, the disciples at first thought that that were seeing a ghost, not the risen Christ. This comes from some of the disciples, who actually saw the empty tomb. For us, at times to have a lack of fire is only natural. This is understandable since the witnesses themselves were lacking an abundance of faith. I do not have the luxury of firsthand knowledge, yet my faith continues to grow, and the flame is stronger.5
Don Schwager quotes “The Easter Alleluia,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"We are praising God now, assembled as we are here in church; but when we go on our various ways again, it seems as if we cease to praise God. But provided we do not cease to live a good life, we shall always be praising God. You cease to praise God only when you swerve from justice and from what is pleasing to God. If you never turn aside from the good life, your tongue may be silent but your actions will cry aloud, and God will perceive your intentions; for as our ears hear each other's voices, so do God's ears hear our thoughts. " (excerpt from commentary on Psalm 148)6
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 24:35-48 notes that the disciples’ lack of understanding was not a problem for Jesus. He was happy to help them understand the Scriptures. And when he did, it was as if a light had turned on for them. Recent confusing events began to make sense. They had joy and hope; they knew they could trust God.
So the best thing you can do is spend time reading the Bible. Hearing the readings at Mass or reading this magazine is a great start. The more time you spend with the Scriptures, the more Jesus can bring them to life for you. For instance, when you read “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I lack” (Psalm 23:1), Jesus might help you see that, as your Good Shepherd, he will take care of the worrisome details of your life. Or when you read “I go and prepare a place for you” (John 14:3), Jesus might lift some of your sadness and give you hope for a departed loved one. You might even start to find joy as you look forward to heaven!7
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the kerygma preached by Peter and John after they healed the crippled man. In the Letter of John, Docetism, a heresy that denied Jesus human nature, is addressed. Friar Jude comments on the different theology in the Letter of John from the Gospel of John. Friar Jude notes the Gospel shows we find Jesus in word, sacrament, and Presence to us.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that the core message of the incarnation of God in Jesus is that the Divine Presence is here, in us and in all of creation, and not only “over there” in some far-off realm.
God is not bound by our commonly held presumption that humans are the center of everything. Creation did not actually demand or need Jesus (or us, for that matter) to confer additional sacredness upon it. From the first moment of the Big Bang, nature was revealing the glory and goodness of the Divine Presence; it must be seen as a gratuitous gift. Jesus came to live in its midst, and enjoy life in all its natural variations, and thus be our model and exemplar. Jesus is the gift that honored the gift, we might say.8
The Good Shepherd among us is witnessed to the world in acts of peace-seeking and forgiveness by His followers.
References
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