In the Reading From the Acts Of
the Apostles
Acts 2:14,22-33
This passage is the first of six major sermons in Acts. All of these six sermons deal with the substance of the Christian message. It is: " Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory."
Peter's citation from Psalm 16 illustrates the freedom with which the early Church made use of the Hebrew Bible. The Psalm describes God as saving his chosen ones from destruction. Peter applies this to God's chosen one par excellence, Jesus Christ, and brings out his point; God raised up Jesus from the dead according to his "set plan and foreknowledge."
The Responsorial Psalm is that that we put our trust in Jesus because of his love and kindness and that he has done great things for us, so we should be filled with joy and love for him and to be like him
in your self-giving.
In the Reading, From the First Letter of Saint Peter
1 Pt1: 17-21
The writer describes Christ's death and its salutary effect on us in terms of the Jewish pass over : sojourn in a strange land and deliverance by the blood of a spotless pass over lamb. We are still in a strange land, but we are delivered by Christ our Passover Sacrifice. For final deliverance from pain and evil, we have "faith and hope.... in God."
In the Gospel of Luke
Lk 24:13-35
This story is one of the most beautifully written by Luke and it offers a wealth of theological (religious) insight. God's word should be 'burning within " us as often as we meditatively read it at home and listen to it in church.
Meeting the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread (the Eucharistic celebration) should open our eyes ever more! "Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn while you speak to us."
