Surrexit Christus Alleluia!
 

Third Sunday of Easter : Reading cycle Year B
† 7th May 2000
Cycle of Prayer: New Members of the Church.

First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 3 : 13 - 16, 17 - 19
Again, the Christian community is presented with the early teaching of the Apostles. Peter, makes clear the continuity between the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - the God of our ancestors - and the God who raised Jesus from death. Another example of the Easter ‘kerygma’, the proclamation by the witnesses of the events, of the facts of the death and resurrection of Jesus,. Concluding with the invitation, to change, to repent, to turn from sinful ways, and turn back to the ways of God.

Second Reading from First Letter of John 2 : 1 - 5
Public confession of sinfulness, may have formed part of the initiation into the Christian community, this may be the background to this text. We can know with certainty that ‘we know God’, if we keep God’s commandments. No doubt, John the Apostle, would have in mind the ‘new Mandatum’, the command of the Lord at the Last Supper as he washes the feet of Peter his chosen friends, that his disciples should love each other and practice this love in humble service.

Gospel according to Luke 24 : 35 - 48
This text forms part of the resurrection narrative in Luke’s gospel account. It is clear, that the person of Jesus, is at first not recognised by the two disciples, yet walks and talks with them as they travel the road, and explains to them the meaning of the events that recently took place in Jerusalem.. No mere ghostly apparition, but it is in the ‘breaking of bread’, that they recognise Jesus - who promptly disappears! The disciples rush back to Jerusalem to announce that they have met the Risen Lord. It does appear there was no doubt in their minds. Luke would have us look again at the Eucharist, the ‘breaking of bread’, and see therein, the Risen Christ. Then to recall in our turn, “you are the witness to this!”