ACTS 3:13 -15, 17 – 19ab / Psalm. 4:2,4,7-9 / 1John 2:1-5a / Luke 24:35-48

The readings for today speak to us about repentance, forgiveness and the transformative power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles, we have excerpts from the speech of Peter after the crippled beggar is healed. Peter insists that it is God who has performed the Miracle and not himself. By recalling the names of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, he reminds the people of the long relationship that Israel enjoyed with Yahweh and how it was God who was faithful even when the people were not.

Peter points out that the people were responsible for handing Jesus over to death despite Pilates verdict that Jesus was not guilty. Instead of the Messiah, the people demanded the release of Barabbas, a murder. Though the early Christians saw the suffering and death of Jesus indicated in Old Testament prophecies, the Jews did not expect a suffering and dying Messiah. In the latter part of the reading, Peter calls the people friends and accept that they acted in ignorance and that the suffering of Christ had long been foretold by the prophets.

Their ignorance, however, is not sufficient to remove their guilt. Repentance is required. There are two aspects of repentance. The first is to turn away from sin, and the second is to turn to God. To repent is not just to express sorrow; it involves reestablishing one’s close relationship with God and submitting totally to his Way. Without turning to God, without surrendering to him, we will not be able to change our lives.

We have to be aware of the fact that though we would like to identify more with Peter whose speaks about Jesus, quite often we resemble the people in the crowd who rejected Jesus. Just as repentance was required of the people back then, repentance is required of each one of us today. No sin is too great for God’s mercy, and true repentance opens the door to new life and restoration. Therefore, we are each invited to take a critical view of our lives today and ask ourselves in which area of my life is God inviting me to repent?

The second reading taken from the first letter of John continues developing the idea that God is light and there is no darkness in him. All those who walk in light and do what is true have fellowship with God and with one another and all their sins are cleansed by the blood of Jesus. John exhorts every member to not sin. However, in case someone sins, then one should not despair, because we all have Jesus as our advocate by the Father and he has offered the atoning sacrifice for the sins of human beings.

John in this letter provides an explanation, calling Jesus the “expiation for our sins.”  This presupposes that the death of Jesus was a sacrifice, like the sacrifices prescribed in the Old Testament (Nm 5:8).  The sacrifice of Jesus makes up for sins, and so offers an opportunity for their forgiveness. Jesus continues to remain our advocate when we encounter the harsh reality of our sins in our lives. Hence, John advises true Christians to approach Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins and to lead true Christian lives by obeying his commandment.

Thus, true Christians are exhorted to acknowledge their sins and depend on redemption brought by the death of Jesus on the Cross.

The gospel taken from Luke continues from the narrative of the two disciples’ encounter with Jesus on their way to Emmaus. Jesus appears to the fearful disciples and greets them with peace. The risen Lord broke through the self-doubt of his disciples in three ways. He firstly showed them his wounds. These weren’t just any old wounds. They were the wounds of that greater love which led Jesus to lay down his life for all.

 He continues to show us his wounds today, to bring home to us the depth of his love for us and the extent of his faithfulness to us. The Lord then opened the Scriptures for his disciples to help them to see that what happened to him, including his passion and death, was already contained within the Jewish Scriptures. The risen Lord continues to speak to us today through the Scriptures.

 He is present to us in his word, the word of the Lord. Finally, the risen Lord then shared a simple meal with his disciples to convince them that he wanted to be in communion with them in spite of their failures. The Lord continues to call us to his table today. It is above all at the table of the Eucharist that he enters into communion with us and invites us to enter into communion with him. It is in the Eucharist that we can really appreciate that the Lord has chosen to come to us in our brokenness and weakness. It is from the Eucharist that he sends us out in the power of his presence to be his witnesses in the world.