Third Sunday of Easter

We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song! Blessings to you on this Third Sunday of Easter! I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and I’m so glad you’re here! Together, let’s break open the Word!

You know, I heard this beautiful image on the “Pray As You Go” app as I prepared for this homily. For those of you who don’t know, “Pray As You Go” is a free app produced by the Jesuits in the UK, and it’s excellent! It’s a wonderful example of Jesuit meditation. So often, as part of the Jesuit contemplative experience, we’re asked some thought-provoking questions and invited to see ourselves in the Scripture passage. This rich technique tries to help us grasp God’s meaning from a variety of different perspectives. I love the app, and I use it regularly.

The image they introduce is the contrast between standing in the shadow of the cross or standing in the light of the Resurrection. It’s a powerfully helpful image! <1>

Why would someone prefer to stand in the shadow of the cross?

Maybe we feel trapped by the scandal of the cross – the horror of sin, like bearing false witness, that lead to the murder of Jesus. Maybe we’re trapped by our sin. Maybe we feel so ashamed by Jesus’ sacrifice for us because of our sin. Or maybe we’re more comfortable in the shadows. We happy with the status quo, and we’re not very interested in the risk of opening up old wounds.

My brothers and sisters, I have good news! We are an Easter people! We don’t hide in the shadow of the cross. No! We bask in the light of Resurrection – in the light of the risen Christ Jesus!

But faith in Jesus is more than just words or pious actions. Basking in the light of the Resurrection means that we live a life in Christ Jesus. That means we need to be transformed! If you believe – I mean if you really believe in all of it – the Incarnation, the life of Jesus, the brutal death and resurrection, the Ascension, and the descent of the Holy Spirit – I mean if you believe all of it – then it should change you! It should change me! That change should be visible in our lives!

What does that transformation look like?

Well, in our second reading, John tells us, “The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments” (1 John 2:3).

Ok, before we go on, it’s important to understand the biblical meaning of the phrase “to know.” “To know” means more than just understanding information or some piece of factual data. In the Bible, “to know” “includes an experiential and relational dimension.” Let’s consider a few examples. “When Pharaoh says to Moses, ‘I do not know the Lord’ (Exodus 5:2), he is not saying that he has never heard about the God of Israel, but that he does not acknowledge him as God and will not yield to his demands. When we hear that Samuel ‘did not yet know the Lord’ (1 Samuel 3:7 NRSV),” this means that Samuel had “not yet heard the Lord speak to him personally.” “When Jesus says to those who refuse to obey his word, ‘I never knew you’ (Matthew 7:23)” this doesn’t mean that Jesus didn’t know who they were, but that “they are not in a good relationship with him.” And finally, “in 1 John, “to know God” is to be in a right relationship with him and to know him personally through the indwelling Spirit.” <2>

That’s why John goes on to say in our second reading, “Those who say, ‘I know him,’ but do not keep his commandments are liars, and the truth is not in them’” (1 John 2:4).

Ok, keeping the commandments is a good start. But what is the greatest commandment that Jesus gave us? “Jesus gave one commandment but said it in two ways. To love God completely and to love one’s neighbor as oneself are one and the same thing.” <3>

How do we do that? How do we love our neighbor as we love ourselves? Well, at minimum, that requires vigilance! The daily examen, for example, is an excellent exercise to help keep us on point. But we do not face the challenge alone or ill-equipped! No! Just as Jesus told us, we have the Holy Spirit to help us. God also blessed each of us with gifts and infused our very being with the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love or charity, giving life to the cardinal virtues of justice, prudence, fortitude, and temperance.

Is it easy? If it were easy, this world would be a much different place. That’s why John, in his letters, talks so much about sin. But wait! I have more good news! Jesus left us His church and invested the Church with the sacraments. One of the blessings of the Mass and the sacraments is to help us face an increasingly hostile world – at least toward Christians. We are nourished and strengthened by the Word of God and the Eucharist. And the stories about the lives of the saints and the sheer breadth of spiritual writing available to us can help us learn more about what it means to be a disciple.

Together with the help of our pastors and spiritual directors, we can keep tabs on our spiritual growth. You see, following Jesus’ commandment like John talks about in our second reading means living a life transformed by Jesus. In other words, it means living a life of love. How do we know this transformation is happening? People around us should see the fruits of the Holy Spirit in our lives and our actions: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control.

And as disciples who are using the gifts God gave us, growing in virtue and bearing fruit, we are sent out into the world as our Gospel from Luke says, to share the Good News of Jesus! “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47).

Homework! Basking in the light of the risen Christ, I invite you to reflect on the following questions. To know Jesus is to be in relationship with Jesus. First, what steps am I taking to deepen my relationship with Jesus? Second, how can I help support my pastor to help the community grow in virtue?

I think doing our homework can help focus our growth as disciples. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Thank you for joining me today. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word. Peace!

Image Credit: Third Sunday of Easter. Artist Unknown. JPG.

Notes:
<1> https://pray-as-you-go.org/player/prayer/2021-04-18
<2> Kelly Anderson and Daniel Keating, 156.
<3> Michael Himes, Chapter Three Incarnation. Kindle.

Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Anderson, Kelly and Daniel Keating. James, First, Second, and Third John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2017. Kindle.
2. Gadenz, Pablo T. The Gospel of Luke. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2018. Kindle.
3. Himes, Michael. The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism. Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2004. Kindle.
4. Kurz, William S. SJ. Acts of the Apostles. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2013. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Christ the key to interpreting all Scripture: 102, 426-29, 601, 2763
2. Jesus reveals and fulfills Scripture: 108, 112, 572, 60, 652, 702, 2625, 2763
3. The name of Jesus: 430-35, 266
4. Jesus as our advocate: 519, 662, 692, 1137
5. Culpability for Jesus’ death: 591, 597-98
6. Jesus’ death in God’s plan: 599-601
7. Jesus’ sacrifice for the sins of the world: 605-6
8. The third day: 627
9. Jesus appears to the disciples: 641
10. The apostles and disciples as witnesses of the Resurrection: 642-44, 857, 995-96
11. The disciples’ disbelief: 644
12. Forgiveness of sins: 981
13. Jesus’ risen body: 645, 999
14. Jesus’ second coming: 673-74
15. The Church’s mission: 730, 1120, 1122
16. The Church and Jews: 839-40
17. Witness in confirmation by the Spirit’s power: 1304
18. The Eucharist and the experience of the disciples at Emmaus: 1346-47
19. Love of God in us: 1424, 1822, 1974, 2067
20. Keeping the commandments: 2052-55
21. Living the way Jesus lived: 2470

Third Sunday of Easter https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041821.cfm
Lectionary: 47

Reading 1
Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
Peter said to the people:
“The God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,
the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus,
whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence
when he had decided to release him.
You denied the Holy and Righteous One
and asked that a murderer be released to you.
The author of life you put to death,
but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.
Now I know, brothers,
that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did;
but God has thus brought to fulfillment
what he had announced beforehand
through the mouth of all the prophets,
that his Christ would suffer.
Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.”

Responsorial
Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9
R. (7a) Lord, let your face shine on us.
Or R. Alleluia.
When I call, answer me, O my just God,
you who relieve me when I am in distress;
have pity on me, and hear my prayer!
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
Or R. Alleluia.
Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one;
the LORD will hear me when I call upon him.
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
Or R. Alleluia.
O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!
You put gladness into my heart.
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
Or R. Alleluia.
As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep,
for you alone, O LORD,
bring security to my dwelling.
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
Or R. Alleluia.

Reading 2
1 John 2:1-5a
My children, I am writing this to you
so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep
his commandments.
Those who say, “I know him,” but do not keep his commandments
are liars, and the truth is not in them.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.

Alleluia
Cf. Luke 24:32
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us;
make our hearts burn while you speak to us.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Luke 24:35-48
The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way,
and how Jesus was made known to them
in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this,
he stood in their midst and said to them,
“Peace be with you.”
But they were startled and terrified
and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled?
And why do questions arise in your hearts?
Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.
Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones
as you can see I have.”
And as he said this,
he showed them his hands and his feet.
While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed,
he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
They gave him a piece of baked fish;
he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them,
“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,
that everything written about me in the law of Moses
and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
And he said to them,
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.”

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