Mission and Reconciliation
The readings of this Sunday’s liturgy celebrate the mission entrusted to us by the risen Lord and describe that mission in terms of reconciliation. Easter is the great celebration of reconciliation. All things are made new— are reconciled to God—in Christ the risen Lord. As Christ’s mission was one of reconciliation, so is it the mission of all who die and rise with Christ and who seek to witness to his resurrection in their lives.
FIRST READING: Acts 3:13–15, 17–19 RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 4:2, 4, 7–8, 9
SECOND READING: 1 John 2:1–5a GOSPEL: Luke 24:35–48
Comment
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles focuses us on the preaching of Peter. This bold orator is the same man who thrice denied Jesus, the same man who was too afraid to stand by his Master’s cross, the same man who experienced a dramatic conversion at the Resurrection, and the same man who is now taking to heart and to action the mission of reconciliation imparted to him by the risen Lord. For Peter and the other apostles, the Resurrection was an experience of unparalleled forgiveness and reconciliation. Their abandoning of Jesus was forgiven, and that same forgiveness is now the subject of Peter’s preaching: “Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.” Peter knew what he was talking about. He had experienced it himself.
In the second reading, John reminds us that although Christ brings forgiveness and reconciles us to God, the day-to-day difficulties of life remain. John assures us that Christ intercedes for us, but John also calls on us to live the reconciled life by adhering to God’s commandments. Conversion, John says, is not simply an exercise of the mind. It is a much more total activity, one that must be evidenced in all that we do. Only by living the reconciled life do we really “know” Christ.
Like the other accounts of the appearances of the risen Lord, today’s Gospel passage begins with an experience of reconciliation: “Peace to you.” The Gospel then goes on to show how the mission of reconciliation and peace is to be shared: by beginning with the Scriptures. In other words, the good—and reconciling—news is spread first by proclaiming and explaining the meaning of the Scriptures. That is why, in today’s first reading, Peter begins his proclamation by explaining that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophets and of the promise (covenant) made by God to Abraham. Proclaiming this reconciling good news is the mission given the apostles by Jesus. As the apostles begin to fulfill this mission, the Church is formed.
Reflection First there is mission, then the Church. The mission of reconciliation the risen Christ gave us comes before the Church. Indeed, the Church exists only because of the mission and only to fulfill the mission. When the Church ceases to carry out its mission, there is no church. It seems mighty important that we understand this primacy, to put first things first. As Church, therefore, we must be concerned, first of all, with reaching out, not in. We must extend to people, in concrete situations—in the flesh— the message and meaning of Christ’s reconciling love. Happily, when we do that, the Church grows and flourishes. Attending to the mission puts first things first and only then begets the Church.
SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2009
Third Sunday of Easter
Graceful you
Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ resurrection appearances include Jesus in the role of “Bible teacher.” The disciples on the road to Emmaus and those in the upper room experienced Jesus in bodily form and also in his role as rabbi. He helped them “connect the dots” of their Jewish tradition so they could see that the resurrection was the fulfillment of all their ancestors had hoped for. Easter helps us locate ourselves in the vast sweep of history, the constant working out of God’s irrepressible good will. God’s grace is not only for figures from biblical times but also for us. You are not included as an afterthought but the intended beneficiary of God’s grace since the beginning of time.
TODAY'S READINGS: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; 1 John 2:1-5a; Luke 24:35-48
"If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
DOMINGO, 26 DE ARBIL DE 2009
Tercer Domingo de Pascua
Tú lleno de gracia
El relato de Lucas sobre las apariciones de resurrección de Jesús incluyen a Jesús en el papel de “maestro de la Biblia.” Los discípulos en el camino a Emaús y aquellos en el cuarto de arriba experimentaron a Jesús en forma corporal y también en su papel como rabí. Él les ayudó a “unir los puntos” de su tradición judía para que ellos pudieran ver que la resurrección era el cumplimiento de todo lo que sus antepasados habían esperado. La Pascua nos ayuda a situarnos en el vasto recorrido de la historia, el trabajo constante de la buena voluntad incontenible de Dios. La gracia de Dios no es solo para figuras de tiempos bíblicos sino también para nosotros. No estás incluído como una ocurrencia tardía sino como el beneficiario previsto de la gracia de Dios desde el principio del tiempo.
LECTURAS DE HOY: Hechos 3:13-15, 17-19; 1 Juan 2:1-5a; Lucas 24:35-48
"Si alguien peca, tenemos un abogado para con el Padre, Jesucristo el justo."
MONDAY, APRIL 27
EASTER WEEKDAY
Read the signs
When we speak of “signs,” we mean that a sign will point us to something larger that we do not see. When Jesus multiplied five loaves of bread to feed a large crowd, he intended the loaves to be a sign of eternal life. But many in the crowd believed the bread to be just bread; that he could feed them all with five loaves was all the miracle they needed. When we become infatuated by the surface of life, we can easily miss the deeper meaning to which it points. Today try to imagine that deeper meaning.
TODAY'S READINGS: Acts 6:8-15; John 6:22-29
"Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves."
TUESDAY, APRIL 28
Feast of Louis Mary de Montfort, priest
Sincerely and completely yours
Louis de Montfort (1673-1716) was a French priest remembered both as a champion of the poorest of the poor and for his strong devotion to Mary. Centuries later, his writings influenced four popes (Leo XIII, Pius X, Pius XII, and John Paul II), and he is now considered a candidate to be named a doctor of the church, a rare distinction. Pope John Paul II said that reading the saint’s work True Devotion to Mary was a “decisive turning point” in his life, and he chose Louis’ personal motto Totus tuus (“completely yours”) as his own motto while a bishop. Try to bring some of Louis’ passion and complete commitment to your own faith and devotion—who knows, future popes might number among your admirers!
TODAY'S READINGS: Acts 7:51-8:1a; John 6:30-35
"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry."
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29
Feast of Catherine of Siena, virgin, doctor of the church
A saint of struggle
She may be from 14th-century Italy, but Saint Catherine of Siena could probably relate to many people today. Just as many of us do, she lived in an atmosphere of political turmoil, struggles in the church, and economic hardship. Catherine struggled with how to make sense of the world around her and a call from God that was burning within her. She surrendered to the call and cultivated her relationship with God in everything she did: tending those who were sick, praying in mystical union with God, writing letters of spiritual counsel and encouragement, suffering the agony of physical and emotional pain, engaging in ecclesial and political affairs in order to bring about reconciliation. Ask Saint Catherine to be your companion as you negotiate life’s sometimes-rocky paths.
TODAY'S READINGS: Acts 8:1b-8; John 6:35-40
"For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me."
THURSDAY, APRIL 30
Feast of Pius V, pope
A leader to follow
Like Pope Paul VI 400 years later, Pope Pius V was called to implement the directives of a church council, in his case the Council of Trent that took place in the wake of the Protestant Reformation. Pius V, a devout fellow with a spare lifestyle drawn from years as a Dominican friar, met the challenge by continuing to live simply, avoiding any luxuries of papal life, and working extremely hard. He offers inspiration to leaders today to dedicate themselves to their tasks for the good of the people they serve, rather than for their own power, wealth, and glory.
TODAY'S READINGS: Acts 8:26-40; John 6:44-51
"It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me."
FRIDAY, MAY 1
Feast of Joseph the Worker
Get to work!
The Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker may have been instituted partly for political reasons (to counteract dreaded communist influence), but the feast’s recognition of the dignity and sanctity of labor has deep roots in Christian tradition. Unfortunately our high-tech culture no longer values manual labor as much as it should. E. F. Schumacher, in his book Small Is Beautiful, suggests that a “great part of the modern neurosis may be due to this very fact: for the human being . . . enjoys nothing more than to be creatively, usefully, productively engaged with both his hands and his brains.” Today, in honor of Saint Joseph, plant a seed, make dinner from scratch, or fix something that’s broken.
TODAY'S READINGS: Genesis 1:26-2:3 or Colossians 3:14-15, 17, 23-34; Matthew 13:54-58
"Is not this the carpenter’s son?"
SATURDAY, MAY 2
Feast of Athanasius, bishop and doctor of the church
Reasons to believe
The struggles of the church to define itself in its early centuries are easily forgotten, but those battles were waged with passion and conviction. Heresies such as Arianism changed the faith of individuals and even helped shape political history. Athanasius’ vigorous defense of the divinity of Christ and the Trinity cost him dearly, not only in his theological thinking but also in popularity and even personal safety. Christians today easily acknowledge the divinity of Christ without realizing the full implications of such a belief. It is important we regularly ask ourselves not only what we believe but why—and avoid easy answers in the process.
TODAY'S READINGS: Acts 9:31-42; John 6:60-69
"Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation."
Contributors: Father Paul Boudreau, Alice Camille, Daniel Grippo, Father Larry Janowski, Ann O'Connor, Sean Reynolds, Joel Schorn, and Patrice J. Tuohy
©2009 by TrueQuest Communications, L.L.C. PHONE: 800-942-2811; E-MAIL: mail@takefiveforfaith.com; WEBSITE: www.takefiveforfaith.com. Licensed for noncommercial use. All rights reserved. Scripture quotes come from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
