Homily Third Sunday of Easter Year B Witnesses
Homily for Third Sunday of
Easter Year B
First Reading: This is
Peter’s second homily after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
What has taken place prior to these words is the healing of the crippled beggar
at the Temple Gate. As a result of this healing, people began to praise God.
Peter takes the opportunity to set the record straight, namely the man was
healed in the name and power of Jesus, whom they had crucified. But the good
news is that Jesus is risen.
On the cross Jesus prayed
that the Father would forgive them for they did not know what they were doing.
Here Peter says the people acted wrongly, but out of ignorance. Because of the hardness of their hearts they
refused to believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah. They had heard his teachings, saw the signs
and wonders he performed, but they didn’t connect the scriptures that
prophesied about him.
In spite of this, Peter
calls them to repent of their past deeds, so that their sins may be forgiven.
Then they will be able to embrace the truth of God’s words and deeds and thus
be saved. On Pentecost 3000 became believers and were baptized; now another
2000 are added. Thus, the power of God
to do mighty things in our lives once we repent of our sins is the message for
us.
Second Reading: John picks
up the theme of the First Reading, namely the power of God to forgive our sins.
Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, is the expiation of our sins. Through his
death and resurrection he delivered us from the consequences of sin, namely
eternal death.
But there is further good
news for us to hear. Even if we sin after we have been saved through the waters
of baptism, Jesus’ reconciling grace is available to us in the Sacrament of
Penance. He did not die only to save us
from the consequences of sin and alienation from God, but he has given us a
share in his own divine life, which is a life of perfect love. As we love we
remain one with and in him. If we do not love, we become a liar, not living in
union with Jesus. But in love we too can become perfected in him. Wow! What a challenge!
What good news!
Gospel: Each Gospel
account gives different insights concerning the various appearances of Jesus
after his Resurrection. Luke emphasizes that in spite of Jesus’ appearance to
the Apostles, they were credulous. They couldn’t believe it. Similar to the
time that Jesus was seen walking on water, the Apostles again thought they were
seeing a ghost. Then, he said: Fear not, it is I. Here he says: Peace. Look at
my hands and feet. He said the same thing to Thomas when he doubted. To further
alleviate their doubts, he asked for and ate food to show that he was not a
ghost.
Then he reminded them of
the scriptures that prophesied his suffering, death and resurrection, plus the
words he had spoken to them on otheroccasions.
In our first reading, Peter reminded the Jewish people of the scriptures
that prophesied about the Messiah’s suffering, death and resurrection.
Jesus appeared to them on
several occasions after his resurrection so that first they can be authentic
witnesses of his resurrected life and secondly for them to preach repentance
for the forgiveness of sins. Those who
responded will share in his divine life and live in love.
We are called to be
witnesses today, witnesses of faith in the Risen Lord, witnesses of the mercy
of God through the forgiveness of sins, witnesses of love, which alone can make
a difference in the life of others. This is good news!
About the Author
0 comments