Reflection for April 14, 2024

Third Sunday of Easter (B)

​Acts of the Apostles 3:13-15, 17-19 | Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9 | 1 John 2:1-5a | Luke 24:35-48

​On the third Sunday of Easter, we continue to hear Gospel accounts of Jesus’ appearances to his disciples following his Resurrection. The readings clearly demonstrate how the Scripture serves as the key to unlock God’s mysteries and to understand God’s ways. The Scripture allows for the correct understanding of Jesus’ mission and the purpose of his death. 

Back when Paracale, Camarines Norte was founded by the Franciscans and was being settled, there was one particular spot where a large, dirt covered rock protruding in the middle of the trail. Carabao-drawn carts were broken on it and men tripped over it. Finally someone dug up the odd stone and rolled it off trail into a nearby river. The river was too wide to jump over, but people used the stone as a step to cross to the other side. It was used for years, until finally one settler built his hut near the river. He moved the odd stone out of the stream and placed it in his hut to serve as a doorstop. As years passed, railroads were built and towns sprang up. The old settler’s grandson went to Adamson University in Manila to study BS Geology. On a visit to his grandfather’s hut, the grandson happened to examine the old lump of stone and discovered within that lump of dirt and rock was the largest pure gold nugget ever discovered in Paracale. It had been there for three generations, and people never recognized its value. To some it was a stumbling stone to be removed. To others it was a stepping-stone, and to others it was just a heavy rock. But only the grandson saw it for what it really was — a lump of pure gold.

Throughout the Easter season in the readings from the Acts of the Apostles we get to see the early church grow explosively in a culture that is hostile to it by means of disciples who were not particularly learned or popular. In our first reading, Peter is taking the people to task for their treatment of Jesus. He addressed his audience in a very direct manner laying the blame for Jesus’ death on those who listened. Peter explains that Jesus is the fulfillment of the ancient messianic promises. He revealed the absurdity of rejecting Jesus and handing him over to death at the hands of the Roman authorities. Jesus, who died and was raised to new life, brought a new life of peace and right relationship with God. Through him, God’s merciful love is available to all those who seek it. While their past mistakes cannot be undone, their effects can be remedied. Peter points the way – “turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out”. 

A little boy walked into the kitchen and told his mother that he discovered he was six feet tall. When she asked how he had determined this, he told her he had used his shoe to measure and that he was six shoes tall. With a loving smile she told him that his shoe was not a foot long. He insisted, “But, Mom, it’s got to be because my foot’s in it!” Many people believe they are pretty good because they are using a faulty standard. Those who know God keep his commandments. Sadly, most of us willfully ignore or completely deny our faults and failures. 

In today’s second reading by John, we are being reminded that if we truly love the Lord Jesus, we must hate our sins. But we still sin at times! When that happens, it is important not to try to hide or forget our sins. We should bring them to Jesus, and he will forgive us. He gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation in which he forgives our sins and gives us strength to overcome sin in the future. The best thing is to love Jesus so much and to be so filled with the Holy Spirit that sin will not control our words, thoughts and actions. 

Cynthia and Dolores lived in a convalescent center. Each had suffered a stroke. Cynthia's stroke left her left side restricted, while Dolores' stroke damaged her right side. Both of these ladies were accomplished concert pianists but had given up hope of ever playing again. Dean Antonio Australia of UST Conservatory of Music sat them down at a grand pianoforte and encouraged them to play solo pieces together. They did, and that was the beginning of years of beautiful friendship and musical collaboration. 

The author of today's Gospel attempts to tell us that Jesus' resurrection involves the whole person, body and spirit. The risen Lord was quick to remind that he was no ghostly spirit. He was a complete person with both body and soul. He assures them that everything that happened to him was part of God’s saving plan for them. Using “the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms” – that is the whole Scripture – he “opened their minds” to comprehend the purpose God had in allowing his Son to die on the cross. Jesus entered the room and all the disciples see him before them, resurrected from the dead, but not made “whole” — his wounds remain. He remained to be marked by human experience. Our experiences of suffering, hardship, injustice, leave marks — marks that leave an inescapable feeling that this harm can never be undone. We are forever changed from who we once were. We are wounded. We are broken. We will never be whole again. Jesus’ resurrection gives us hope that we can look beyond nail-prints and a pierced side. Jesus’ resurrection gives us hope that we can look beyond our woundedness. Just as Jesus’ death was not the end of his story, woundedness is not the end of our life experiences. Instead of focusing only on our wounds and negative emotions during difficult times, we can recognize the blessings and opportunities for goodness that come out of these trying times. Some images are too difficult to see, yet too significant to ignore. The wounds of our Lord are examples of these unbearable yet necessary images. The effects of the Crucifixion are there for us to see. In gazing upon the effects of our sin — his wounds — we are also gazing upon the effects of his goodness — the resurrection. When we feel the marks of the nails, we are not only touching the result of our transgressions, we are touching the promise of our own future glory. 

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