FIRST READING
“You killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. ”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 3: 13- 15.17 -19ab)
In those days: Peter said to the people, “The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers, But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM psalm4:2.4.7.9 (R. 7b)
R/. Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord.
Alleluia.
I called, the God of justice gave me answer;
from anguish you released me, have mercy and hear me! R.
Know that the Lord works wonders for his faithful one;
the Lord will hear me whenever I call him. R
“What can bring us happiness?” many say.
Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord. R
In peace I will lie down and fall asleep,
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. R.
SECOND READING
He is the expiation for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world.
A reading from the first Letter of Saint John (1 John 2: 1-5a)
My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He who says “I know him” but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Cf. Luke 24:32
Alleluia. Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts bum with love when you speak to us. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 24:35-48)
At that time: The two disciples told what had happened on the road, and how Jesus was known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself, handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Peter again invites the Jewish people to repent of their sin of rejecting and crucifying Jesus. On the cross Jesus had said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Peter does the same, telling the people that they and their leaders knew not what they were doing. When we excuses people who offend us, we liberate ourselves from hurt and gain power to forgive from the heart. The Gospel takes us back to the Upper Room where the disciples, returning from Emmaus, narrate their encounter with the risen Jesus. Jesus Himself again appears to them; He helps them see how God used His passion and death for their own good. God does not will or plan rejection; but His love triumphs over and turns all evil unto good, even for those who do evil (cf. Rom 8:28).