3rd Sunday of Easter Reflections

Reflection for 3rd Sunday of Easter: April 18, 2021

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19: Peter charges those guilty of condemning Jesus for being co-conspirators with the scribes and Pharisees in being responsible and culpable for Jesus’ death. Peter then shows compassion, conceding that these people and their leaders “acted out of ignorance.” Peter thereby concedes that they aren’t fully responsible, but nonetheless calls them to repentance, conversion and a change of life, to lives as Christian disciples. Powerfully, Peter witnesses to God’s glorifying Jesus by raising Him from the dead. Peter refers to Jesus as “the Holy and Righteous One” when speaking of their wrongly convicting Jesus and their accusations which led to His unjust crucifixion and condemnation. Lastly, Peter persuasively proclaims Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Christ. As we can see, Peter’s message is powerful as it doesn’t mince the truth concerning the peoples’ guilt, yet it offers mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation in return. What a positive message!

Psalm 4: “Lord, let Your face shine on us": This psalm celebrates God’s responsiveness and compassion when the psalmist is in need. The next stanza further proclaims the Lord’s power, reliability and consistency in answering and fulfilling the psalmist’s needs. The psalmist expresses thanks to God, rightly attributing the joy in his heart as a gift from God, the Source of all joy and love. Lastly, the psalmist observes the trust he has in God that enables him to sleep serenely and without worry; knowing that God takes care of all of his needs for protection and security.

1 John 2:1-5a: This passage is a plea to the early Christian disciples and to us, to turn from sin. John proclaims Jesus as our Savior from the guilt and punishment merited by our sins and the Source of our forgiveness. John invites us to grow in knowledge of and intimacy with Jesus by following His Commandments. John wisely notes that we can only know God, intimately if we are obedient to Him and in conformity with His Holy Will as we are when we obey God’s Commandments, which are for our own good. If we obey, then we will grow in wisdom, grace and love; while, when we disobey, we gain only suffering, misery, stress and confusion. The choice seems easy, yet it’s so easy to fall back into sin. Thankfully, Jesus is ever merciful and ready to forgive us when we repent and confess our sins and ask for forgiveness.

Luke 24:35-48: This beautiful and exciting passage is infinitely hopeful. Here we see the two disciples who experienced Jesus’ Presence on the road to Emmaus telling the Apostles their story after they’d arrived back in Jerusalem. Suddenly, Jesus appears again, saying “Peace be with you.” They are, at first, startled and afraid, but Jesus speaks words of reassurance and comfort. He shows them His wounds on His body and invites them to touch Him and verify that He has flesh and bones and that He isn’t a ghost. Touchingly, Jesus asks for something to eat in order to further calm their fears. More than His wounds, the compassion, love and reassurance Jesus gives them does more to help them to see and believe.

Now the real miracle happens. Then He (Jesus) “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” Jesus then reminds those disciples and us of our current mission: to witness and preach and invite others to “repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, in Jesus’ Name.” We are called to share our faith and witness to all around us. Are we witnessing? If not, let’s start!

Deacon Matt