Thrown in jail, the Apostles are freed by the Angel of God who directs them to continue to preach the Good News. They respond with conviction, revealing to us an example of how we live our lives for the Lord today.
We discover in the Acts of the Apostles a common theme of unity within the early Church. They were of “one heart and mind” and lived their faith in Christ in both physical and spiritual ways.
Released from prison, Peter and John rejoin the disciples in a moment of prayer and praise to God. They are filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Here are some of the main themes in the readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter.
1st Reading – Acts: 2:14,22-33
Peter preaches to the people about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Peter cites Psalm 16, revealing how this passage is fulfilled in Christ.
Psalm – 16:1-2,4,7-11
“Lord, you will show us the path of life.”
The passage recaps a substantial amount of what Peter quoted to the people in the first reading.
2nd Reading – 1st Peter 1:17-21
This exhortation to conduct ourselves with reverence finds its strength in Christ, the spotless unblemished blood of the lamb of God.
Christ is revealed to us through our faith, hope, and belief in God.
Gospel – Luke 24:13-35
On the road to Emmaus, two disciples encounter Jesus along the way as he interprets the scripture passages that refer to Christ.
During the breaking of the bread, they recognize Jesus – who disappears from their sight – and return to Jerusalem to announce to the disciples what they experienced.
This basic structure – Scripture and the breaking of the bread – is the basic outline for the Mass we celebrate!
The Lord’s greeting to the disciples, “Peace be with you” is directed to us as well. May we recognize the struggles in our hearts each day and draw near to Christ who calms our souls and fosters our joy. Peace be with you!
Recognized by the Sanhedrin to be uneducated, ordinary men, Peter and John demonstrate through their words and actions how God works through people. May we follow their example as we call upon the Lord to guide us in all that we say and do.
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Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter boldly addresses the Sanhedrin and proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ. May his example in the face of opposition inspire us to call upon the Spirit every day for guidance and strength.
Peter’s response to the question, “What are we to do?” inspires us to embrace the daily call to conversion of heart as we repent of our sins and draw strength from the Holy Spirit.
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