Readings for Thursday of the Second Week of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 5:27-33
As in the previous case when they had cured the lame beggar, the Apostles (this time all of them, not just Peter and John) are brought before the Sanhedrin. It is interesting to see that the elders and scribes fear to speak the name of Jesus in these proceedings (“…stop teaching in that name”).
Peter now assumes his role as leader of the Apostles and again boldly professes his faith that Jesus, in whose name they speak and whose name the Sanhedrin fear to speak, is the Son of God (“We must obey God rather than man.”).The intent of the Sanhedrin at this point changes from telling the Apostles to stop to seeking their death in accordance with Mosaic Law Deut 13:6-10. The Apostles seem to be following the path that their Savior had walked.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The Psalm and response continue from yesterday with praise and thanksgiving for God’s saving works and his special care for the poor. The Old Testament God of Justice is very visible in this selection.
Gospel John 3:31-36
In today’s selection as we hear the conclusion of the discourse with Nicodemus. This passage is almost a reflection by the Gospel writer on the proceeding dialogue and monologue. Here we find the Lord, in no uncertain terms, telling Nicodemus that the Messiah, who comes from above is of God and with God in his kingship over all creation. He goes on to explain that all he has said and taught, since it proceeds from that authority given by the father, is true and all who believe in this truth shall receive eternal life.
The passage concludes with a formula similar to the “blessings and curses” statements made in God’s covenants with Abraham and Moses. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.”
Homily:
The great dialogue with Nicodemus comes to an end in the Gospel passage from St. John. In these concluding remarks we find the New Covenant expressed in ancient terms. When God made covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Moses we saw the form of a covenant. It spells out what each party will do and as a consequence receive.
In the case of a covenant with God, there is always an assumption that what humankind provides to God, the Omnipotent King of all Creation, can only be the one thing God did not put into his creation – the gift of faith and obedience. God, after all, created all worldly goods. He even created us in his own image and gave us life. How could we give him, as in civil contracts between equals, goods, produce, or a monetary sum? All these things he first gave us.
No, God asks only what we, having free will, choose to have and do. We choose to follow (or not follow) God’s Law. We decide to (or not to) love God for what he has done for us. In the New Covenant, summed up in Jesus final words today, Christ tells us that; “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.” We are offered a choice.
As the after glow of our Easter Joy is still infusing our hearts with thanksgiving for the gift of new life in the risen Lord, the Gospel offers us once more the choice to embrace the Son of God; to encounter him truly in those we meet and to express our belief and obedience to the Son through our love and respect. If we do this we have eternal life.
Christ came into the world for this purpose – out of respect for the Father’s creative will – he offers us this choice. Choose to follow Jesus and the life he offers or choose not to and “…not see life”. From the perspective of those of us who have come to know the Lord, that’s a pretty easy choice. Our challenge, therefore, is to make sure that message gets to those who do not know him; those who have not been offered that choice.
Pax
Please pray for Esther (and Hank).
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “Hearts and hands of the Apostles” by Raffaello Sanzio, c. 1517
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 5:27-33
As in the previous case when they had cured the lame beggar, the Apostles (this time all of them, not just Peter and John) are brought before the Sanhedrin. It is interesting to see that the elders and scribes fear to speak the name of Jesus in these proceedings (“…stop teaching in that name”).
Peter now assumes his role as leader of the Apostles and again boldly professes his faith that Jesus, in whose name they speak and whose name the Sanhedrin fear to speak, is the Son of God (“We must obey God rather than man.”).The intent of the Sanhedrin at this point changes from telling the Apostles to stop to seeking their death in accordance with Mosaic Law Deut 13:6-10. The Apostles seem to be following the path that their Savior had walked.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The Psalm and response continue from yesterday with praise and thanksgiving for God’s saving works and his special care for the poor. The Old Testament God of Justice is very visible in this selection.
Gospel John 3:31-36
In today’s selection as we hear the conclusion of the discourse with Nicodemus. This passage is almost a reflection by the Gospel writer on the proceeding dialogue and monologue. Here we find the Lord, in no uncertain terms, telling Nicodemus that the Messiah, who comes from above is of God and with God in his kingship over all creation. He goes on to explain that all he has said and taught, since it proceeds from that authority given by the father, is true and all who believe in this truth shall receive eternal life.
The passage concludes with a formula similar to the “blessings and curses” statements made in God’s covenants with Abraham and Moses. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.”
Homily:
The great dialogue with Nicodemus comes to an end in the Gospel passage from St. John. In these concluding remarks we find the New Covenant expressed in ancient terms. When God made covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Moses we saw the form of a covenant. It spells out what each party will do and as a consequence receive.
In the case of a covenant with God, there is always an assumption that what humankind provides to God, the Omnipotent King of all Creation, can only be the one thing God did not put into his creation – the gift of faith and obedience. God, after all, created all worldly goods. He even created us in his own image and gave us life. How could we give him, as in civil contracts between equals, goods, produce, or a monetary sum? All these things he first gave us.
No, God asks only what we, having free will, choose to have and do. We choose to follow (or not follow) God’s Law. We decide to (or not to) love God for what he has done for us. In the New Covenant, summed up in Jesus final words today, Christ tells us that; “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.” We are offered a choice.
As the after glow of our Easter Joy is still infusing our hearts with thanksgiving for the gift of new life in the risen Lord, the Gospel offers us once more the choice to embrace the Son of God; to encounter him truly in those we meet and to express our belief and obedience to the Son through our love and respect. If we do this we have eternal life.
Christ came into the world for this purpose – out of respect for the Father’s creative will – he offers us this choice. Choose to follow Jesus and the life he offers or choose not to and “…not see life”. From the perspective of those of us who have come to know the Lord, that’s a pretty easy choice. Our challenge, therefore, is to make sure that message gets to those who do not know him; those who have not been offered that choice.
Pax
Please pray for Esther (and Hank).
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “Hearts and hands of the Apostles” by Raffaello Sanzio, c. 1517
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