Posted on 04/27/2011 10:25:13 PM PDT by Salvation
April 28, 2011
Thursday in the Octave of Easter
Reading 1
Responsorial Psalm
Gospel
Reading 1
Acts 3:11-26
As the crippled man who had been cured clung to Peter and John,
all the people hurried in amazement toward them
in the portico called “Solomon’s Portico.”
When Peter saw this, he addressed the people,
“You children of Israel, why are you amazed at this,
and why do you look so intently at us
as if we had made him walk by our own power or piety?
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.
And by faith in his name,
this man, whom you see and know, his name has made strong,
and the faith that comes through it
has given him this perfect health,
in the presence of all of you.
Now I know, brothers and sisters,
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,
and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment
and send you the Christ already appointed for you, Jesus,
whom heaven must receive until the times of universal restoration
of which God spoke through the mouth
of his holy prophets from of old.
For Moses said:
A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you
from among your own kin;
to him you shall listen in all that he may say to you.
Everyone who does not listen to that prophet
will be cut off from the people.
“Moreover, all the prophets who spoke,
from Samuel and those afterwards, also announced these days.
You are the children of the prophets
and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors
when he said to Abraham,
In your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
For you first, God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you
by turning each of you from your evil ways.”
R. (2ab) O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, our Lord,
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
or:
R. Alleluia.
You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet.
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
or:
R. Alleluia.
All sheep and oxen,
yes, and the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way,
and how they had come to recognize him 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.”
| Feast Day: | April 28 |
| Born: | July 12, 1803, Cuet, near Belley, France |
| Died: | April 28, 1841, Futuna Island |
| Canonized: | 12 June 1954, Rome by Pope Pius XII |
| Major Shrine: | Futuna |
| Patron of: | Oceania |
| Feast Day: | April 28 |
| Born: |
31 January 1673 at Montfort-La-Cane, Brittany, France |
| Died: | 1716 at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sovre, France |
| Canonized: | 1947 by Pope Pius XII |
| Feast Day: | April 28 |
| Born: |
October 4, 1922, Magenta, Italy |
| Died: | April 28, 1962, Monza, Italy |
| Canonized: | May 16, 2004 by Pope John Paul II |
| Patron of: | mothers, physicians, preborn children |
One day, a good parish priest met him and was so impressed by Peter that he asked Peter's parents if he could educate the boy. They gratefully agreed and in this priest's little school, and later in the seminary, Peter studied hard.
At the age of twenty-four Peter Chanel became a priest and he was sent to a parish at Corzet where just a few Catholics still practiced their faith. Father Chanel spent hours in prayer each day and was kind and patient with everyone. Within three years there was a big improvement in that parish. Many people became full of love for Jesus and his Church again.
Father Chanel had a great wish to become a missionary. When he was twenty-eight, he joined a religious order called the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers). He hoped he would be sent to bring the Good News of Jesus to people who did not yet believe in God. After a few years, his wish came true.
He and a group of Marist missionaries were sent to the islands of the South Pacific, Oceania. Father Chanel and one brother were assigned to the island of Futuna in New Hebrides. There the people happily listened to Father Chanel preach. "This man loves us," one man said. "And he himself practices what he teaches us to do."
Sadly though, the chief of this tribe became jealous because the priest had so many followers. When the chief's own son was baptized and became a Christian, he was furious. He sent a band of his warriors to kill the missionary.
As Peter Chanel lay dying, all he said was, "It is well with me." He was killed on April 28, 1841 for his faith. A short while after he died a martyr, the whole island became Christian.
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We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.
Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.
Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.
Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.
Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.
Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.
O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.
Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests
This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.
The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.
Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem. He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.
St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.
1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
3. The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)
5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.
End with the Hail Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Final step -- The Sign of the Cross
The Mysteries of the Rosary
By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.
St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
+
From an Obama bumper sticker on a car:
"Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8"
Psalm 109:8
"Let his days be few; and let another take his place of leadership."
PLEASE JOIN US -
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ACT OF ADORATION
I adore Thee, 0 Jesus, true God and true Man, here present in the Holy Eucharist, humbly kneeling before Thee and united in spirit with all the faithful on earth and all the blessed in heaven. In deepest gratitude for so great a blessing, I love Thee, my Jesus, with my whole heart, for Thou art all perfect and all worthy of love.
Give me grace nevermore in any way to offend Thee, and grant that I, being refreshed by Thy Eucharistic presence here on earth, may be found worthy to come to the enjoyment with Mary of Thine eternal and everblessed presence in heaven. Amen.
FAITH IN THE EUCHARIST
O my God, I firmly believe that Thou art really and corporally present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. I adore Thee here present from the very depths of my heart, and I worship Thy sacred presence with all possible humility. O my soul, what joy to have Jesus Christ always with us, and to be able to speak to Him, heart to heart, with all confidence. Grant, O Lord, that I, having adored Thy divine Majesty here on earth in this wonderful Sacrament, may be able to adore it eternally in Heaven. Amen.
PETITION
Believing that Thou, my God, hast in any way revealed to us--grieving for all my sins, offenses and negligences--hoping in Thee, O Lord, who wilt never let me be confounded--thanking Thee for this supreme gift, and for all the gifts of Thy goodness--loving Thee, above all in this sacrament of Thy love--adoring Thee in this deepest mystery of Thy condescension: I lay before Thee all the wounds and wants of my poor soul, and ask for all that I need and desire. But I need only Thyself, O Lord; I desire none but Thee--Thy grace, and the grace to use well Thy graces, the possession of Thee by grace in this life, and the possession of Thee forever in the eternal kingdom of Thy glory.
FOR THE PEACE OF CHRIST
O most sacred, most loving heart of Jesus, Thou art concealed in the Holy Eucharist, and Thou beatest for us still. Now as then Thou sayest, "With desire I have desired." I worship Thee, then, with all my best love and awe, with my fervent affection, with my most subdued, most resolved will. O make my heart beat with Thy heart. Purify it of all that is earthly, all that is proud and sensual, all that is hard and cruel, of all perversity, of all disorder, of all deadness. So fill it with Thee, that neither the events of the day nor the circumstances of the time may have power to ruffle it; but that in Thy love and Thy fear it may have peace. --Cardinal Newman
ACT OF LOVE
I believe Thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament, O Jesus. I love Thee and desire Thee. Come into my heart. I embrace Thee, O never leave me. I beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus, may the burning and most sweet power of Thy love absorb my mind, that I may die through love of Thy love, who wast graciously pleased to die through love of my love. --St. Francis of Assisi
ACT OF REPARATION
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, well known in connection with devotion to the Sacred Herat of Jesus, led the way in making reparation to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for the coldness and ingratitude of men. This prayer of hers can become our own as we attempt to make amends for our own and others' neglect of the great Sacrament of His love, the Eucharist.
O kind and merciful savior, from my heart I earnestly desire to return Thee love for love. My greatest sorrow is that Thou art not loved by men, and, in particular, that my own heart is so cold, so selfish, so ungrateful. Keenly aware of my own weakness and poverty, I trust that Thy own grace will enable me to offer Thee an act of pure love. And I wish to offer Thee this act of love in reparation for the coldness and neglect that are shown to Thee in the sacrament of Thy love by Thy creatures. O Jesus, my supreme good, I love Thee, not for the sake of the reward which Thou hast promised to those who love Thee, but purely for Thyself. I love Thee above all things that can be loved, above all pleasures, and above myself and all that is not Thee, promising in the presence of heaven and earth that I will live and die purely and simply in Thy holy love, and that if to love Thee thus I must endure persecution and suffering I am completely satisfied, and I will ever say with Saint Paul: Nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God." 0 Jesus, supreme master of all hearts, I love Thee, I adore Thee, I praise Thee, I thank Thee, because I am now all Thine own. Rule over me, and transform my soul into the likeness of Thyself, so that it may bless and glorify Thee forever in the abode of the saints.
--Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
OFFERING
My Lord, I offer Thee myself in turn as a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Thou hast died for me, and I in turn make myself over to Thee. I am not my own. Thou hast bought me; I will by my own act and deed complete the purchase. My wish is to be separated from everything of this world; to cleanse myself simply from sin; to put away from me even what is innocent, if used for its own sake, and not for Thine. I put away reputation and honor, and influence, and power, for my praise and strength shall be in Thee. Enable me to carry out what I profess. Amen. --Cardinal Newman
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
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Missionary Intention: That missionaries, with the proclamation of the Gospel and their witness of life, may bring Christ to all those who do not yet know Him.
From: Acts 3:11-26
Peter’s Address in the Temple
[17] “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance as did also your ru-
lers. [18] But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ
should suffer, He thus fulfilled. [19] Repent therefore, and turn again, that your
sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence
of the Lord, [20] and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, [21]
whom Heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by
the mouth of His holy prophets from of old. [22] Moses said, ‘The Lord God will
raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as He raised me up. You shall lis-
ten to Him in whatever He tells you. [23] And it shall be that every soul that
does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ [24] And all
the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards,
also proclaimed these days. [25] You are the sons of the prophets and of the
covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your pos-
terity shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ [26] God having raised up
His servant, sent Him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from
your wickedness.”
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
11-26. This second address by St. Peter contains two parts: in the first (verses
12-16) the Apostle explains that the miracle has been worked in the name of
Jesus and through faith in His name; in the second (verses 17-26) he moves his
listeners to repentance—people who were responsible in some degree for Jesus’
death.
This discourse has the same purpose as that of Pentecost—to show the power of
God made manifest in Jesus Christ and to make the Jews see the seriousness
of their crime and have them repent. In both discourses there is reference to the
Second Coming of the Lord and we can clearly see the special importance of tes-
tifying to the Resurrection of Jesus; the Apostolic College is presented as a wit-
ness to that unique event.
13. “Servant”: the original Greek word (”pais”) is the equivalent of the Latin “puer”
(slave, servant) and “filius” (son). By using this word St. Peter must have in mind
Isaiah’s prophecy about the Servant of Yahweh: “Behold, My servant shall pros-
per, He shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. As many were asto-
nished at Him — His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and
His form beyond that of the sons of men — so shall He startle many nations” (52:
13-15).
Peter identifies Jesus with the Servant of Yahweh, who, because He was a man
of suffering and sorrow, the Jews did not identify with the future Messiah. That
Messiah, Jesus Christ, combines in His person suffering and victory.
14. St. Peter, referring to Jesus, uses terms which Jews can readily understand
in a messianic sense. The expression “the Holy One of God” was already used
of Jesus as referring to the Messiah in Mark 1:24 and Luke 4:34. It is reminiscent
of Old Testament language.
The “Righteous One” also refers to the Messiah, whom the prophets described
as a model and achiever of righteousness (cf. Acts 7:52). “Holy”, “righteous” and
“just” all have similar meaning.
15. When St. Peter reminds his listeners about their choice of a murderer (Barab-
bas) in place of Jesus, the Author of Life, we might usefully consider that he was
referring not only to physical life, but also to spiritual life, the life of grace. Every
time a person sins — sin means the death of the soul — this same choice is being
made again. “It was He who created man in the beginning, and He left him in the
power of his own inclination. If you will, you can keep the commandments, and
to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice. He has placed before you fire and
water: stretch out your hand for whichever you wish. Before a man are life and
death, and which he chooses will be given to him” (Sirach 15:14-18).
16. The original text, structured in a very Jewish way, is difficult to understand.
One reason for this is the use of the word “name” instead of simply identifying
who the person is. In this passage “name” means the same as “Jesus”. Thus
the verse can be interpreted in this way: through faith in Jesus, the man lame
from birth, whom they know and have seen, has been cured; it is Jesus Himself
who has worked this complete and instantaneous cure.
17-18. The Jewish people acted in ignorance, St. Peter says. Indeed, when He
was on the cross Jesus had prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do” (Luke 23:34). The people did not know that Jesus was the Christ,
the Son of God. They let themselves be influenced by their priests. These, who
were familiar with the Scriptures, should have recognized Him.
God’s pardon is offered to one and all. St. Peter “tells them that Christ’s death
was a consequence of God’s will and decree. [...] You can see how incompre-
hensible and profound God’s design is. It was not just one but all the prophets
who foretold this mystery. Yet although the Jews had been, without knowing it,
he cause of Jesus’ death, that death had been determined by the wisdom and
will of God, who used the malice of the Jews to fulfill His designs. The Apostle
does not say, “Although the prophets foretold this death and you acted out of
ignorance, do not think you are entirely free from blame”; Peter speaks to them
gently: ‘Repent and turn again.’ To what end? ‘That your sins may be blotted out’.
Not only your murder but all the stains on your souls” (Chrysostom, “Hom. on
Acts”, 9).
The Second Vatican Council tells us how Christians should treat Jewish people
and those who follow other non-Christian religions—with respect and also a pru-
dent zeal to attract them to the faith. “Even though the Jewish authorities and
those who followed their lead pressed for the death of Christ (cf. John 19:6), nei-
ther all the Jews indiscriminately at that time, nor Jews today, can be charged
with the crimes committed during His Passion. It is true that the Church is the
new people of God, yet the Jews should not be spoken of as rejected or accur-
sed. [...] Jews for the most part did not accept the Gospel; on the contrary,
many opposed the spreading of it (cf. Romans 11:28-29). Even so, the Apostle
Paul maintains that the Jews remain very dear to God, for the sake of the Patri-
archs, since God does not take back the gifts He bestowed or the choice He
made” (Vatican II, “Nostra Aetate”, 4). We must not forget this special position
of the Jewish people (cf. Romans 9:4-5) and the fact that from them came Jesus
as far as His human lineage was concerned, and His Mother, the Blessed Vir-
gin Mary, and the Apostles — the foundation, the pillars of the Church—and many
of the first disciples who proclaimed Christ’s Gospel to the world.
Moved by charity, the Church prays to our Lord for the spiritual conversion of the
Jewish people; “Christ, God and man, who is the Lord of David and his children,
we beseech You that in keeping with the prophecies and promises, Israel should
recognize You as Messiah” (”Liturgy of the Hours”, Morning Prayer, 31 Decem-
ber).
19. One result of sorrow for sin is a desire to make up for the damage done. On
the day of Pentecost many Jews were moved by grace to ask the Apostles what
they should do to make atonement. Here also St. Peter encourages them to
change their lives and turn to God. This repentance or conversion which Peter
preaches is the same message as marked the initial proclamation of the King-
dom (cf. Mark 1:15; 13:1-4). “This means a change of outlook, and it applies to
the state of sinful man, who needs to change his ways and turn to God, desirous
of breaking away from his sins and repenting and calling on God’s mercy” Paul
VI, “Homily”, 24 February 1971).
On another occasion [Pope] Paul VI explained that the word “conversion” can
be translated normally as “change of heart”. “We are called to this change and
it will make us see many things. The first has to do with interior analysis of our
soul [...]: we should examine ourselves as to what is the main direction our life
is taking, what attitude is usually to the fore in the way we think and act, what is
our reason of being. [...] Is our rudder fixed so as to bring us exactly to our goal
or does its direction need perhaps to be changed? [...] By examining ourselves
in this way [...] we will discover sins, or at least weaknesses, which call for pe-
nance and profound reform” ([Pope] Paul VI, “General Audience”, 21 March
1973).
20. A reference to the Parousia or Second Coming of Christ as Judge of the li-
ving and the dead (cf. note on 1:11).
22-24. St. Peter wants to show that the Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled
in Jesus: He is descended from David (2:30), a prophet (cf. Deuteronomy 18:15),
who suffered (2:23), who is the cornerstone (4:11) and who rose from the dead
and sits in glory at the right hand of the Father (2:25-34).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
From: Luke 24:35-48
[35] Then they (the disciples) told what had happened on the road, and how
He (Jesus) was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Jesus Appears To The Eleven And Their Companions
[41] And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, He said to them,
“Have you anything here to eat?” [42] They gave Him a piece of broiled fish,
[43] and He took it and ate before them.
Jesus’ Last Instructions And Leave-Taking
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
36-43. This appearance of the risen Jesus is reported by St. Luke and St. John
(cf. John 20:19-23). St. John reports the institution of the sacrament of Penance,
whereas St. Luke puts the stress on the disciples’ difficulty in accepting the mi-
racle of the Resurrection, despite the angels’ testimony to the women (cf. Mat-
thew 28:5-7; Mark 16:5-7; Luke 24:4-11) and despite the witness of those who
had already seen the risen Lord (cf. Matthew 28:9-10; Mark 16:9-13; Luke 24:
13ff; John 20:11-18).
Jesus appears all of a sudden, when the doors are closed (cf. John 20:19),
which explains their surprised reaction. St. Ambrose comments that “He pene-
trated their closed retreat not because His nature was incorporeal, but because
He had the quality of a resurrected body” (”Expositio Evangelii Sec. Lucam, in
loc”.). “Subtility”, which is one of the qualities of a glorified body, means that
“the body is totally subject to the soul and ever ready to obey its wishes” (”St.
Pius V Catechism”, I, 12, 13), with the result that it can pass through material
obstacles without any difficulty.
This scene showing Christ’s condescension to confirm for them the truth of His
resurrection has a charm all of its own.
41-43. Although His risen body is incapable of suffering, and therefore has no
need of food to nourish it, our Lord confirms His disciples’ faith in His resurrec-
tion by giving them these two proofs—inviting them to touch Him and eating in
their presence. “For myself, I know and believe that our Lord was in the flesh
even after the Resurrection. And when He came to Peter and his companions,
He said to them, ‘Here, feel Me and see that I am not a bodiless ghost.’ They
touched Him and believed, and were convinced that He was flesh and spirit [...].
Moreover, after the Resurrection, He ate and drank with them like a man of flesh
and blood, though spiritually one with the Father” (St. Ignatius of Antioch, “Let-
ter to the Christians at Smyrna”, III, 1-3).
44-49. St. Matthew stresses that the Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled in
Christ, because His immediate audience were Jews, who would accept this as
proof that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah. St. Luke does not usually
argue along these lines because He is writing for Gentiles; however, in this epi-
logue he does report, in a summarized way, Christ’s statement to the effect that
everything foretold about Him had come true. By doing so He shows the unity
of Old and New Testaments and that Jesus is truly the Messiah.
46. From St. Luke’s account we have seen how slow the Apostles were to grasp
Jesus’ prophecy of His death and resurrection (cf. 9:45; 18:34). Now that the pro-
phecy is fulfilled Jesus reminds them that it was necessary for the Christ to suf-
fer and to rise from the dead (cf. Acts 2:1-4).
The Cross is a mystery, in our own life as well as in Christ’s: “Jesus suffers to
carry out the will of the Father. And you, who also want to carry out the most ho-
ly Will of God, following the steps of the Master, can you complain if you meet
suffering on your way?” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 213).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
| First reading | Acts 3:11-26 © |
|---|
| Psalm | Psalm 8:2,5-9 |
|---|
| Gospel | Luke 24:35-48 © |
|---|
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