3rd Sunday of Easter 

 

My dear parishioners,

 

God is Good!!!  All the time!!!  And all the time!!!  God is Good!!!

 

A man lame from birth has just been healed as Peter and John prayed for him in the name of “Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” As the man, now healed, clings to the two apostles in gratitude, Peter addresses the crowd around them. All are amazed at what has just taken place.

 

Tradition. Peter wants to make it clear that this miracle was not something for which he and John could claim any credit. He will reveal to them the source of the healing in a moment. But first, he disposes his audience to listen to his message by mentioning the God of their fathers. The names Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would bring to mind some of the most cherished details of their history. In this way, Peter wins their favor and then invites them to recognize that the same God who cared for their fathers along the journey of faith is doing the same for them in their own time. God was gloried by the work of salvation in the past; God is glorified now through the saving work of “his servant Jesus.”

 

Deliverance. The people did not perceive the hand of God at work in Jesus. Instead, they surrendered him to Pilate and the authority of Rome. The governor wanted to release Jesus, replacing him with someone who was truly guilty. But they refused. In so doing, they denied the “Holy and Righteous One” and put to death “the author of life.” But God’s saving work could not be undone by their sin and ignorance. God raised Jesus from the dead. Peter and John are witnesses to this.

 

The opening line of today’s Gospel makes reference to the disciples’ previous experience with the risen Lord on the way to Emmaus (Lk 24:13–35). The four major points of the Emmaus story are found also in today’s narrative about Jesus appearing to the Eleven and commissioning them. Notice the following: 1) The failure of the disciples to recognize or believe Jesus; 2) The interpretation of the Scriptures by Jesus; 3) Eating with the disciples; 4) The opening of the disciples’ eyes or minds.

 

The appearance of the risen Lord. This appearance story reminds one of last week’s narrative from the Gospel of John (20:19–29). Jesus miraculously appears in the midst of his disciples, bestowing on them the gift of his peace. The disciples are terrified by all of this. It is only when Jesus shows them his wounded hands and feet with the invitation to touch him that the disciples slowly begin to recognize him. It is very important for the disciples to experience continuity between Jesus of Nazareth and the risen Lord.

 

Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org. All rights reserved

 

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Aloysius