Third Sunday of Easter: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19. 1 Jn 2:1-5. Lk 24:35-48. - The Gospel this weekend is this: Lk 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. 36 While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." 37 But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? 39 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." 40 And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of baked fish; 43 he took it and ate it in front of them. 44 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." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. 46 And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. - The first reading is this: Acts 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. 14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One * and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses… 17 Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, * just as your leaders did; 18 but God has thus brought to fulfilment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, * that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away, - The second reading is this: 1 Jn 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. 2 He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. 3 The way we may be sure * that we know him is to keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 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: - MEDITATION: The gospel this Sunday continues to tell of the appearance of the risen Jesus. I like the way that he doesn't dig in to some deep theological teaching, but rather asks the gang: "Have you anything to eat?"!! That may seem unimportant, but it makes me think of the fact that God became completely human… like us all. Even the resurrected Christ was keen to nibble a bit! That speaks of how the resurrection isn't just for divine beings, it's for us too. It speaks to us of how the door has been opened for this bunch of flesh and bones to reach beyond death. And this didn't come 'out of the blue'. It's the climax of a history that goes back a long, long way. It says 'Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures' (Lk 24:45). And the first reading, from Acts, has Peter describing to the Jews how the life of Jesus Christ had all been predicted, going back to their ancient patriarchs. I must say, I give thanks for the way that scriptures were explained to me, but of course I've still got a lot to learn. We all have. But will we let Christ explain them to us and stimulate thoughts in us as we pray? Jesus adds 'that the forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all the nations'. The three readings this week are actually about the mercy of God. It's described with reference to the people who handed Jesus over to crucifixion (and that certainly requires tremendous mercy), but we're all part of that. We've all sinned at some stage, and our joy isn't to point to the good works done by our Christian community, but to the fact that God forgives us despite our many bad works... and our frequent failure to do good ones. I've done wrong... and you've done wrong, but the great thing is that God forgives. Phew! It seems that the name 'Divine Mercy Sunday' applies to this Sunday as much as to last week (and to every week!). How could we possibly repay God? By beginning anew. God gives us a tremendous chance: the chance to forgive anyone who may have done us any harm or failed to do good. We're all in the same boat. Only one of us hasn't ever done wrong – just one: Mary. But she's our mother… and the fantastic Good News ('gospel') is that the kids do have the potential to become like their Mum! There's a missionary call here also. Jesus asks that repentance for the forgiveness of sins be preached in his name to all the nations.' (Lk 24:47). That's a call to us all who can speak (or press a keyboard)! And Jesus tells us that it will be a good trip. Maybe there will be some wind and waves (and even sclerosis) along the way, but the followers of Peter and his fishermen (the Church) will end up with a decent catch! ........ Dara. - - en ESPAÑÓL: - 3° Domingo de Pascua: Hech 3:13-15, 17-19. 1°Jn 2:1-5. Lucas 24:35-48. El Evangelio este domingo sigue con las apariciones de Jesús resucitado. Me gusta como no profundiza en alguna enseñanza teológica, sino pregunta a ‘la bola’ de apóstoles: “¿Tenéis algo para comer?”!! Puede parecer sin importancia, pero me hace pensar en el hecho de que Dios realmente se hizo humano – como todos nosotros. ¡Incluso Jesús resucitado quería zampar un poco! Aquello me habla de cómo la resurrección no es solamente para criaturas divinas. Es para nosotros también. La puerta ha sido abierta para que este trozo de carne y hueso supere la muerte. Y esto no surgió ‘de repente’. Es el clímax de una historia que viene de muy atrás. Dice que ‘Entonces les abrió la mente para entender las escrituras’ (Lucas 24:45). Y la primera lectura, de Hechos, tiene a Pedro describiendo a los judíos cómo la vida de Cristo había sido toda profetizada, volviendo a los primeros patriarcas. Realmente, doy gracias por la forma en que las escrituras me han sido explicadas, pero es cierto que me queda mucho por aprender. Nos queda a todos. Pero ¿Dejaremos a Cristo explicarnos lo mientras oramos? Jesús añade que el perdón de los pecados sería predicado en su nombre a todas las naciones. De hecho, las tres lecturas esta semana hablan de la misericordia de Dios. Es descrito con referencia a la gente que entregaron a Jesús en la crucifixión (y aquello requiere muchísima misericordia), pero tenemos todos parte en aquello. Hemos pecado todos en algunas ocasiones, y nuestro gozo no está en mirar a las maravillas buenas hechas por nuestra comunidad Cristiana, sino en el hecho de que Dios nos ama a pesar de haber hecho muchos males... y de haber dejado de hacer muchos bienes. He hecho males... y tu también, pero lo tremendo es que Dios perdona. ¡Menos mal! Parece que este es el Domingo de la Misericordia Divina como la semana pasada. ¿Como podríamos agradecerle a Dios? Empezando de nuevo. Nos da Dios una oportunidad tremenda: la oportunidad de perdonar a cualquiera que nos ha hecho mal o que ha dejado de hacer bien. Estamos todos en la misma barca. Solo uno de nosotros no ha pecado – solo uno: María. Pero es nuestra madre – y la buena nueva (‘evangelio’) es que los niños tienen la potencia para llegar a ser como su Madre. Hay una llamada misionera aquí también. Jesús pide que el perdón se predique a todas las naciones en su nombre. (Lucas 24:47). ¡Aquello es una llamada a todos los que pueden hablar (o apretar el teclado)! Y Jesús nos dice que será un viaje bueno. Quizá habrá algo de viento y algunas olas (y aún esclerosis) en el camino, pero los que siguen a Pedro y a sus pescadores (la Iglesia) acabarán con una pesca bastante decente! ........ Dara. Comments are closed.
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