Readings:
Acts 3:13–15, 17–19
Psalm 4:2, 4, 7–9
1 John 2:1–5
Luke 24:35–48
Jesus in today’s Gospel teaches His apostles how to interpret the Scriptures.
He tells them that all the Scriptures of what we now call the Old Testament refer to Him. He says that all the promises found in the Old Testament have been fulfilled in His Passion, death, and Resurrection. And He tells them that these Scriptures foretell the mission of the Church—to preach forgiveness of sins to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
In today’s First Reading and Epistle, we see the beginnings of that mission. And we see the apostles interpreting the Scriptures as Jesus taught them to.
God has brought to fulfillment what He announced beforehand in all the prophets, Peter preaches. His sermon is shot through with Old Testament images. He evokes Moses and the Exodus, in which
God revealed himself as the ancestral God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see Exodus 3:6, 15). He identifies Jesus as Isaiah’s suffering servant who has been glorified (see Isaiah 52:13).
John, too, describes Jesus in Old Testament terms. Alluding to how Israel’s priests offered blood sacrifices to atone for the people’s sins (see Leviticus 16; Hebrews 9–10), he says that Jesus intercedes for us before God (see Romans 8:34), and that His blood is a sacrificial expiation for the sins of the world (see 1 John 1:7).
Notice that in all three readings, the Scriptures are interpreted to serve and advance the Church’s mission—to reveal the truth about Jesus, to bring people to repentance, the wiping away of sins, and the perfection of their love for God.
This is how we, too, should hear the Scriptures. Not to know more “about” Jesus, but to truly know Him personally, and to know His plan for our lives.
In the Scriptures, the light of His face shines upon us, as we sing in today’s Psalm. We know the wonders He has done throughout history. And we have the confidence to call to Him, and to know that He hears and answers.
The Unity of the Church - Wednesday of The Fifth Week of Easter
How Christ Destroys Death - Tuesday of The Fifth Week of Easter
What the Prophets saw in the shadows - The Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena
The Most Under-Confessed Sin - Saturday of The Fourth Week of Easter
How Paul's Preaching Unified Christians - Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter
How the Lord Calls Us to Forgive - The Feast of St. Mark
The Obedience of Jesus - Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
The Relationship of the Sheep and the Shepherd - Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
The Spiritual Symbolism of Uncleanness - Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
The Shepherd’s Voice: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fourth Sunday of Easter
To Whom Shall We Go? - Saturday of the Third Week in Easter
How Jesus Takes Our Persecution Personally - Friday of the Third Week of Easter
The Power of the Proclamation of the Gospel - Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
The Staff of Life - Wednesday of the Third Week in Easter
Why Was Jesus Accused of Blasphemy? - Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter
The Divine Dynamism of the Early Church - Monday of the Third Week of Easter
Entendiedo las Escrituras: Scott Hahn reflexiona sobre el 3º Domingo de Pascua
How to Balance the Works of Mercy - Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
A Little + Jesus = Enough - Friday of the Second Week of Easter
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Hello Heaven Podcast
Cast The Word
Let Me Be Frank | Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Podcast | Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
The Kingdom Power Fellowship Podcast
The Bible Recap
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)