Returning to the other disciples with praise and prayer, Peter and John recount the Sanhedrin’s response to a healing miracle done in the name of Jesus Christ.
Let’s examine some of the themes that we discover in the Mass readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter.
1st Reading – Acts of the Apostles 5:27-32,40b-41
The Apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin and ordered to stop speaking about Jesus.
Peter replies, “We must obey God rather than men,” and the Apostles rejoice that they have been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name of Jesus.
Psalm – 30:4-6,11-13
“I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.”
We give thanks to God who has pity on us and changes our mourning into dancing.
2nd Reading – Revelation 5:11-14
John has a vision of countless angelic and human creatures giving praise to the “Lamb that was slain.”
All of creation echoes the words of blessing and honor as they worship the Lamb.
Gospel – John 21:1-19
After the resurrection, Jesus is revealed to some of the disciples on the Sea of Tiberias.
Jesus asks Peter three times, “Peter, do you love me?”
Appearing to the disciples after his resurrection, Christ gives them peace, the Holy Spirit, and the task to continue his work to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News.
St. Peter’s bold speech before the Sanhedrin reveals how he has grown in faith through his encounter with the Risen Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Both Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of Luke follow a pattern where an amazing event leads to an opportunity to show how God has worked in our past so that we can live in the present as faithful witnesses for Jesus Christ.
In the Acts of the Apostles a crippled man begging for alms gets far more than he asks for from Peter and John as he is healed in the name of Jesus Christ.
Both Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of John reveal how the Risen Lord directs us to holy action that transforms our lives and reaches out to others.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 