► Text of Sunday Reflection
► Readings, Reflections & Prayers
Scripture readings: Courtesy of Universalis Publishing Ltd.
– www.universalis.com
Reflections and Prayers by Fr Jack Finnegan SDB
1st Reading – Acts 3:13-15,17-19
Peter said to the people: ‘You are Israelites, and it is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, who has glorified his servant Jesus, the same Jesus you handed over and then disowned in the presence of Pilate after Pilate had decided to release him. It was you who accused the Holy One, the Just One, you who demanded the reprieve of a murderer while you killed the prince of life. God, however, raised him from the dead, and to that fact we are the witnesses.
‘Now I know, brothers, that neither you nor your leaders had any idea what you were really doing; this was the way God carried out what he had foretold, when he said through all his prophets that his Christ would suffer. Now you must repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.’
Reflection
Once again we read from the Acts of the Apostles to underline the living presence and action of the Risen One in the Church. Today we reflect on two very early titles of Jesus: the Holy and Righteous One, and the Author of Life. Jesus is the new Moses leading his people into the realm of God. Once again notice the interplay of yes and no: our no that led to Jesus’ death on the cross, God’s yes that raised him from the grave. Is it any wonder we are asked to repent and let our sins be washed away, cast by God into the depths of the sea! We are gifted with resurrection life.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are the Righteous One, the Author of Life. Renew our lives in these days of Easter. Lift us up from all the things that diminish us. Fill us with your resurrection life. Lead us back to the Father. May we truly recognise you today in the breaking of the bread! Receive our praise and thanks today. Alleluia! Amen.
Psalm 4:2,4,7,9
Reflection
Today’s psalm is a lament crying out for deliverance, and the poet’s prayer is answered. He can lie down peacefully and sleep secure in the knowledge that God is caring for him. The message is simple: my response to God my shield is calm trust. For God in Christ has won the victory. Jesus was in distress and God raised him up. Mercy touches us and faith shows us how to stand. Embrace resurrection life!
Prayer
LORD, Adonai, you are our shield. In the power of the Spirit you protect us from all that would harm our eternal destiny. With you on our side who can be against us? Let your face shine on us today and lead us beyond distress. Put your gladness into our hearts. We rejoice in your glorious Name, you who alone bring us to safety! Alleluia! Amen.
2nd Reading: 1 John 2:1-5
I am writing this, my children,
to stop you sinning;
but if anyone should sin,
we have our advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ, who is just;
he is the sacrifice that takes our sins away,
and not only ours,
but the whole world’s.
We can be sure that we know God
only by keeping his commandments.
Anyone who says, ‘I know him’,
and does not keep his commandments,
is a liar,
refusing to admit the truth.
But when anyone does obey what he has said,
God’s love comes to perfection in him.
Reflection
Jesus pleads our cause with the Father. Alleluia! He is our advocate in heaven, the Righteous One, the expiation for our sins. Do I show my gratitude by walking in his way of love? Do I want his love, his resurrection life, to come to perfection in me?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for paying the price of our sins. Thank you for the gift of forgiveness. Thank you for opening the doors to resurrection life. Please bring your saving help to this troubled land of ours and to all the places touched by violence and oppression. Let your blessings of love come upon us afresh in these Easter days. You are Lord! Alleluia! Amen.
Gospel Reading: Luke 24:35-48
The disciples told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised Jesus at the breaking of bread.
They were still talking about all this when Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you!’ In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said, ‘Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.’ And as he said this he showed them his hands and feet. Their joy was so great that they still could not believe it, and they stood there dumbfounded; so he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ And they offered him a piece of grilled fish, which he took and ate before their eyes.
Then he told them, ‘This is what I meant when I said, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the Psalms has to be fulfilled.’ He then opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘So you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.’
Reflection
In last Sunday’s gospel Jesus invited his disciples to touch him. In Luke’s story today Jesus eats some broiled fish. Is Luke hinting at a link between the resurrection and the Eucharist, that glorious food for the soul? Did you notice Jesus’ instruction to his disciples to be witnesses? But first he opened their minds to the scriptures. Are our minds open to the transformative promises of the scriptures? Do we meditate on the living word? Do we let it inform our prayer and shape our daily lives?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you broke bread with the two disciples in Emmaus. Now you share some baked fish in the upper room. You are truly alive! You are truly risen! Feed our souls today. Touch every troubled heart with your bright resurrection light. Set our hearts on fire with your living loving presence. Let us find you and share time with you today. Meet us and calm our troubled hearts. Deepen our practice of prayer and meditation. Open the scriptures for us. May we have the courage to witness to your love and life today and every day! Alleluia! Amen.