LAITY Reflections on Third Sunday of Easter, Year B
1st Reading: Acts 3:13- 15.17 -19
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 4:2.4.7.9 (R. 7b)
2nd Reading: 1 John 2: 1-5
Gospel Reading: Luke 24:35-48
Philips Okoye
Greetings in the name of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Dear brothers and sisters, may we continue to be filled and sustained by the joy of the resurrection of Christ...Amen.
The first, second and the gospel readings, are questioning me about how well I live a life that bears witness to the resurrection of Christ.
After a pensive meditation on the readings, I learnt that the resurrection of Christ brought with it, joy and solace, because of the restoration of the lost hope, at His death.
So, in thinking through how best to live a life that supports the resurrection as a christian, the following questions below, came across strongly to me :
- how well have I disposed myself to allowing the resurrected Christ, make Himself known to me like HE did to the disciples in the gospel ?
- what imparts am I making in preaching the gospel of the resurrected Christ, in words and in deeds ?
- do I truly live as one who is now inspired and driven by the freedom and zeal, birthed by the resurrection of Christ ?
On these, I must live as one who has a personal encounter with the resurrected Christ. As such, my christian life must be lived in uprightness with the commandments of God. And as I do, I must always remember that Christ's supreme price at His death and resurrection, has done its part. What is left is mine to do, which is preaching the resurrected Christ to all and sundry, in words and deeds.
In conclusion, brothers and sisters, I have a duty to continue preaching the good news of the resurrection irrespective of any seeming odds that come with doing it. Also, I must strive to sustain the efforts in getting others to have the same encounter with Christ, and experience the good news of His resurrection.
Grace and Peace of the resurrection we seek...O'Lord!!!
My Reflection on the Readings
Peter's address to the Jews, not just here but in other passages looked as though he was bent on making them feel the guilt of the crime they committed. This often scares me because I am able to see clearly the grave danger in living in ignorance, in particular in our relationship with God. Even though what happened was already foretold in the law and the prophets, the action of the Jews was based on lies and lack of understanding,even though God used them to accomplish his own good rpose. That is how many of us Christians fashion out our own our own selfish way of" pleasing "God and continue to live life on our own terms. Scripture says that light came into the world but men prefer darkness to light. Is it any wonder that the Jews chose Barabbas as against Jesus. I ften wonder how many wrong choices I have made in life and still making, as a result of the darkness at work in me. I pray that the good Lord grants me understanding and discernment to make choices and take decisions based on righteousness and a desire to align with God always.
The gospel acclamation is very instructive.Luke 24:32.
Lord Jesus, open the scriptures to us; make our hearts burn with love when you speak to us.
In those days Jesus taught them everything written about him in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms and their hearts burn with fire of love.
Do our hearts still burn with love after hearing the readings at mass.
How does the readings and the homilies relates to us when we hear them?
At mass during the readings and homilies Jesus speaks to us again and again preparing us for the Eucharistic meal.
We are privileged people the Easter people the resurrection and ascension people.If hear the word and allow it to impact us.
We are blessed with the menu and the meal.
Let's listen attentively to Christ again at the menu before settling to enjoy the Eucharistic meal.
Do our hearts burn with love at the hearing of the readings the gospel or do we close our minds?
Time and time again it has been proven that our hearts do not burn with love rather we preoccupied our minds with gadgets like earphones and other devices.
My sheep hear my voice I know them and they follow me John 10:27.
Like the 2 disciples to Emmaus let's listen to His voice always and invite Him to our eucharistic meals and other meals through Christ our Lord.
Lord may we never Harden our hearts when you speak to us.
Good afternoon to all my brothers and sisters.
In the first reading, l see how truth is always bitter in the mind of the wicked but some of these wicked plans happened to be in the will of God hence Peter address the people of their evil deeds to Jesus Christ and reminded them at the end of the reading of ,"What God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled".
The psalm prays to God to lift up the light of His face on us. It is only when we have that light of God in us that we can have true repentance just as Peter urged us in the first reading.
Evil deed is done in the dark but anybody with the light of God can not do evil, as the light of God in that person will be like a shield preventing him from doing any form of evil deeds.
Furthermore, in the second reading of the First letter of St John reading, we are reminded that we are all sinners but we have an advocate that reconcile us with the father in the person of Jesus Christ as an assurance that we have the right to do good and not evil if only we will allow our "Lord Jesus to open our minds to the scripture; to make our hearts burn with love whenever He speaks to us".
It is only then the gospel reading will be fulfilled in our lives. Just as the disciples eyes were opened at the time Jesus ate before them, may they Lord open our eyes and enlighten to hearts to bear witness in the name of Jesus Christ helping us to continue to have a total trust and hope in God. Amen.
LESSON 1️⃣ (ACTS OF THE APOSTLES)
From The First Reading (Chp. 3)
Who Will You Accept? (v. 13-15)
People tend to choose corrupt leaders who provide them with influence or affluence, rather than those who demonstrate honesty and morality. This is still true today, as the most effective leaders are not always the ones who get elected.
Peter addressed the religious authorities in the Jewish community with the unadulterated truth: They had rejected Jesus and accepted a criminal during Jesus’ trial. They had killed the Messiah and asked for a murderer to be released to them. But God raised Jesus from the dead, confirming his innocence and showing his power over death. This is the central message the apostles taught, and it should be our message today.
The Jewish leaders rejected Jesus not just because of his teachings, but also due to the threat he posed to their authority. When we identify a genuine and virtuous leader, we must abandon our personal ambitions and support that person unreservedly. Only by doing so will our communities and nations prosper.
