22 April 2012, 3rd Sunday of Easter; Blessed Lidwina

FIRST READING
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.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 4:2, 4, 7–8, 9 (7a)

R. 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.

SECOND READING
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.

ALLELUIA
see Luke 24:32

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn while you speak to us.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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.”

REFLECTIONS:

Aren't we like the apostles? We wont believe unless
we can see with our own eyes. The gospels attest to the reality of the
resurrection. Jesus goes to great lengths to assure his disciples that
he is no mere ghost or illusion. He shows them the marks of his crucifixion
and he explains how the scriptures foretold his death and rising. Jerome,
an early church bible scholar, comments: "As he showed them real hands
and a real side, he really ate with his disciples; really walked with Cleophas;
conversed with men with a real tongue; really reclined at supper; with
real hands took bread, blessed and broke it, and was offering it to them.
..Do not put the power of the Lord on the level with the tricks of magicians,
so that he may appear to have been what he was not, and may be thought
to have eaten without teeth, walked without feet, broken bread without
hands, spoken without a tongue, and showed a side which had no ribs." (From
a letter to Pammachius against John of Jerusalem 34, 5th century)
The centrality of the gospel is the cross; but fortunately it does not
stop there. Through the cross Jesus defeated our enemies – death and Satan
and won pardon for our sins. His cross is the door to heaven and the key
to paradise. The way to glory is through the cross. When the disciples
saw the risen Lord they disbelieved for joy! How can death lead to life,
the cross to victory? Jesus shows us the way and he gives us the power
to overcome sin and despair, and everything else that would stand in the
way of his love and truth. Just as the first disciples were commissioned
to bring the good news of salvation to all the nations, so, we, too, are
called to be witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ to all who live
on the face of the earth. Do you witness the joy of the gospel to those
around you?

"Lord Jesus, open our minds to understand the scriptures that we may
fully comprehend the truth of your word. Anoint us with your power and
give us boldness to proclaim the gospel in word and deed."