Third Sunday of Easter

Catechism Links[1]

CCC 1346-1347: The Eucharist and the experience of the disciples at Emmaus
CCC 642-644, 857, 995-996: The apostles and disciples as witnesses of the Resurrection
CCC 102, 601, 426-429, 2763: Christ the key to interpreting all Scripture
CCC 519, 662, 1137: Christ, our Advocate in heaven

“Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles”
by Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308-11

Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter [2]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
 
Readings and Commentary:[4]
 
Reading 1: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
 
Peter said to the people:
"The God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,
the God of our fathers, 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 Christ would suffer.
Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away."
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
 
Following the earlier cure of the lame beggar, a crowd gathers in the temple area and St. Peter launches 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.
 
"This second address by St. Peter contains two parts: in the first (vv. 12-16) the apostle explains that the miracle has been worked in the name of Jesus and through faith in this name; [...] This discourse has the same purpose as that of Pentecost - to show the power of God made manifest in Jesus Christ and to make the Jews see the seriousness of their crime and have them repent." [5]
 
CCC: Acts 3:13-14 597; Acts 3:13 599; Acts 3:14 438, 601; Acts 3:15-16 2666; Acts 3:15 612, 626, 632, 635; Acts 3:17-18 591, 600; Acts 3:17 597; Acts 3:18 601; Acts 3:19-21 674
-------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9
 
R. (7a) Lord, let your face shine on us.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
When I call, answer me, O my just God,
you who relieve me when I am in distress;
have pity on me, and hear my prayer!
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one;
the LORD will hear me when I call upon him.
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!
You put gladness into my heart.
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep,
for you alone, O LORD,
bring security to my dwelling.
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
or:
R. Alleluia.
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9
 
Psalm 4 is an individual lament. In these strophes we hear the trust the psalmist has in God whose saving works cause the faithful to tremble in awe of God’s mercy. Assurance of God's mercy and protection brings the peace that sets hearts to rest and gives joy to life.
 
-------------------------------------------
Reading II: 1 John 2:1-5a
 
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 commandments.
Those who say, "I know him," but do not keep his commandments
are liars, and the truth is not in them.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 2:1-5a
 
This selection provides a principal teaching of St. John. He writes to the faithful that they might know the commandments of Christ. He then tells them that in order to keep from sin they must keep Jesus’ commandments. He contrasts professed faith and observed actions, saying that if you say you belong to Christ but do not follow his commandments, you are a liar. (see also 1 John 4:20, 1 John 5:10).
 
CCC: 1 Jn 2:1-2 1460; 1 Jn 2:1 519, 692, 2634; 1 Jn 2:2 605, 606
-------------------------------------------
Gospel: Luke 24:35-48
 
The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way,
and how Jesus was made known to them
in the breaking of 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 Christ 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."
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 24:35-48
 
This is the first appearance of the Risen Christ to the disciples immediately following his appearance on the road to Emmaus, the account of which is referenced at the beginning of this selection. No mention is made of St. Thomas’ presence or absence as in the account from St. John (see John 20:19-31). He shows the disciples his wounds, and then to prove he is corporeal, he asks for food and eats in front of them.

As with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus “opened their minds” so they could see how Mosaic Law and the Hebrew Prophets were fulfilled in him. Then, 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.” This statement is important since later in St. Luke’s narrative in the Acts of Apostles, their witness becomes the foundation of faith for others.
 
CCC: Lk 24:36 641, 645; Lk 24:38 644; Lk 24:39 644, 645, 645, 999; Lk 24:40 645; Lk 24:41-43 645; Lk 24:41 644; Lk 24:43 2605; Lk 24:44-48 652; Lk 24:44-46 112; Lk 24:44-45 572, 601; Lk 24:44 702, 2625, 2763; Lk 24:45 108; Lk 24:46 627; Lk 24:47-48 730; Lk 24:47 981, 1120, 1122; Lk 24:48-49 1304
-------------------------------------------
Reflection:
 
St. John does not mince his words: “Those who say, "I know him (Jesus)," but do not keep his commandments are liars.”  We can differentiate this from Jesus’ attacks on the Pharisees.  He called them “hypocrites” (Matthew 6, 2ff, Mark 7:6, and Luke 13:15).
 
A hypocrite is defined as: “a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, esp. a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.”[6]
 
We contrast that word with the one used so forcefully by the evangelist – he calls those who claim to know Christ, but whose actions belie stated beliefs, liars.  The same source defines the word “liar” as: “A person who knowingly utters falsehood; one who lies.”[7]
 
In reality, hypocrisy as demonstrated by the Pharisees is more easily forgiven.  Their pious deeds of praying, fasting, and almsgiving, while not heartfelt, at least attempted to serve God’s purpose. (Do we really believe that the Pharisees felt they were being dishonest in their rigorous practice of the faith?)  The Christian, on the other hand, who claims to know the Lord, to understand Christ’s will for his followers, but knowingly acts in sinful ways is more culpable.
 
Whether liar or hypocrite, the teaching point is clear.  As Christians we have two important goals to accomplish.  First we are called to have faith in Jesus Christ, that he is the Anointed One of God, and sent by God so that we might obtain life through the forgiveness of our sins.  As St. John also says of Jesus: “He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.” 
 
The second goal also follows the injunction of the evangelist.  We are to be proof to the world that Jesus lives, and through his followers, continues to demonstrate his love to the world.  If we believe in Jesus, we seek to understand what he calls us to be. What he calls us to be is evidence in the world that Christ lives in his faithful followers.   St. John defines that as well.  He says if we believe in him, we “keep his commandments.” 
 
At last, here is an actionable statement.  All we need to do is to understand the commandments of Jesus.  Throughout the New Testament, the Gospels give us a number of “sayings” of Jesus.  The Sermon on the Mount is a virtual litany of blessings to be given to those who follow God with a sincere heart.  There is, however, only one place in which Jesus tells us what he considers to be the “greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:36).   It is the same commandment that St. John is said to have focused all of his attention on in his later years.  It is the same commandment that he restates in his first letter, used above immediately following the passage proclaimed today.  Jesus demands that we love God and love one another.  It is this commandment that identifies us instantly as Christian.  It is our failure to follow this commandment that would accuse us as “liars” about our faith.
 
The love of God and love of others is so important that St. Luke calls it our means to life in his Gospel (Luke 10:25-28). St. John vehemently proclaims in his Gospel and his epistles as our key to living the faith we have been called to.  It is the reason Jesus died, and the reason he returned to us.  What more can we ask?  It is God’s love personified and returned to us time and again.
 
Pax

---

[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, Published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014.
[2] The picture used is “Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles” by Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308-11.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5] The Navarre Bible, “Gospels and Acts”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2002, p. 738.
[6] Hypocrite. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hypocrite.
[7] Liar. (n.d.). Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liar.