Reading for Thursday in the Octave of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 3:11-26
Continuing the story started yesterday with the cure of the lame beggar, we find a crowd gathering in the temple area and Peter launching into the second kerygmatic discourse or proclamations about the nature of Christ. Peter uses a new title for the Savior, “The Author of Life.” He concludes this discourse with a call for conversion. He sites Moses prophecy using a paraphrase of Deuteronomy 18:15.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8 is another of the songs of thanksgiving. In this selection we hear the title “son of man” used. It is, in this instance referring to the people as opposed to Jesus. The song reflects on the creation account from Genesis and how God gave man dominion over the life he created.
Gospel Luke 24:35-48
This is the first appearance of the risen Christ to the disciples in the locked room. It is significant that Thomas was not with them. His role becomes important later. He shows the disciples his wounds and then to prove he is corporeal, he asks for food and eats in front of them.
Now satisfied that they believe, the Lord brings them to understand the prophetic significance of what had taken place. He concludes pointedly by saying; “You are witnesses to these things.”
Homily:
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 3:11-26
Continuing the story started yesterday with the cure of the lame beggar, we find a crowd gathering in the temple area and Peter launching into the second kerygmatic discourse or proclamations about the nature of Christ. Peter uses a new title for the Savior, “The Author of Life.” He concludes this discourse with a call for conversion. He sites Moses prophecy using a paraphrase of Deuteronomy 18:15.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8 is another of the songs of thanksgiving. In this selection we hear the title “son of man” used. It is, in this instance referring to the people as opposed to Jesus. The song reflects on the creation account from Genesis and how God gave man dominion over the life he created.
Gospel Luke 24:35-48
This is the first appearance of the risen Christ to the disciples in the locked room. It is significant that Thomas was not with them. His role becomes important later. He shows the disciples his wounds and then to prove he is corporeal, he asks for food and eats in front of them.
Now satisfied that they believe, the Lord brings them to understand the prophetic significance of what had taken place. He concludes pointedly by saying; “You are witnesses to these things.”
Homily:
He is risen! The scriptures shout the good news from Peter’s great discourse in the temple precincts to the Lord’s own appearance to his friends. Are we still not amazed? Even when we see a fisherman (three years ago Peter was throwing nets into the sea and praying for fish!) boldly proclaiming Christ’s death and resurrection to the leaders of his faith?
Easter is a time when we should do our best to throw out our historical understanding of the events unfolding in scripture. Like a movie we love and have seen many times before, we allow ourselves to be caught up in events that played themselves out thousands of years ago. So great was the event we relive it each year and remember it each day.
He is risen! Our reaction to his appearance in the locked room (although St. Luke does not mention it is locked) is the final proof that all that was predicted has come to pass. The “Author of Life” as St. Peter so aptly titles him, has returned not just to those ten, but to all of us. We see him there, bruised, beaten and pierced for us. He is real, not a ghost. He eats before his friends to prove it.
He is risen! For us that means two important things. First if all he said about his mission is true, and how can it not be since he was dead and is now alive, then what he promised, salvation, remission of our sins and eternal life opened to us, must also be true. Second, all that he asked of us through his disciples must also apply to our part of his New Covenant. We too are called to follow his example, his path.
He is risen! We rejoice at our good fortune and rededicate ourselves to our own call.
Pax
Please Pray for Esther.
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today is “Christ's appearance behind locked doors” Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308-11
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