Second Sunday of Easter Year A 2023

Title

What is the Early Belief and Practice?

Outline

We are often confronted with the question of what the first believers were like

Even within Christian communities there are multiple pictures presented - e.g. in the Jesus People era Jesus the Flower Child or new guru

Let me point out 4 characteristics that may have you saying, “We know that,” but which should be our checklist with respect to whether we are in tune with them or not.

They had an objective basis for commitment

The Thomas story is not about doubt but about the undoubted evidence that the first witnesses had. Thomas was hard headed in the sense that he was committed to follow Jesus even if everything pointed towards death. Now he wants evidence just as clear and states his need just as dramatically. Jesus appears to him, the “show me” person. Jesus knows what he had said, takes him literally, and offers him proof. There is no evidence that he actually reached out his hands to touch, just that he confessed a great confession: “My Lord, and my God!”

The point of the narrative is that the 11 and those around them were not credulous but had been convinced by solid and repeated evidence. Therefore there is a blessing for those accepting their testimony (witness being a key word in John). John does not mention the ascension, but he is aware that the physical proofs had ended.

They had the Spirit within them

Before Thomas, before the physical evidences ended, Jesus appears and equips the nascent Church. First he greets them with peace (despite a less than stellar performance at the crucifixion) and then he empowers them for ministry: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” and then “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” While Luke points to Pentecost as the community exploding into mission, John places the commission in the resurrection appearances and makes it the empowering of the leaders, the Magisterium, so to speak. There is no mission without the Spirit. There is a need for the authority to forgive sins if one is calling people to repentance.

They had a hope before them

1 Peter focuses the eyes of the suffering Church above, on a living hope based in the resurrection of Jesus. Keep your eyes there and you can endure anything, for anything is for a short time and that hope is eternal. He sums it up: “Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of [your] faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Remember that this is amplified and repeated within the rest of the letter, for this paragraph is introductory, laying out in short what he will be talking about later. In comparison with the post-resurrection faith this is far more developed, but it is developed as the need for such faith developed; that is, persecution led to more focus above that put the present-below in perspective.

They lived their faith publicly

They did four things: (1) devoted themselves to learning “the teaching of the apostles” (which came in the first place from Jesus), (2) devoted themselves to sharing, amplified in “All who believed were together and had all things in common.” This is an ongoing activity, as the verbs indicate, not a once for all at the beginning of their conversion. They could not see need without sharing with their brothers and sisters. Then (3) they worshipped publicly in the Temple at the time of prayer, more or less like the core of our Liturgy of the Hours, but in continuity with Judaism, giving them a venue for living their faith before others. And (4) they celebrated Eucharist privately, in their homes, among the believing community. At that point it was probably the second part of a full meal, a re-enactment of the Last Supper. That would change as the Church grew and could no longer meet in houses, as we see in Peter’s house in Capernaum and in a house in Dura-Europa, both of which became church buildings.

These should also be characteristic of us

That is the simple conclusion. Ask where you or I are weaker or even deficient personally or communally and pray for guidance as to how to shore it up. For me it eventually led through stages to becoming a Catholic and then to keeping growing and deepening in my faith and practice. Simple indeed, but quite stretching in practice.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 4-16-2023: Second Sunday of Easter

FIRST READING

Acts 2:42–47

42 They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Catholic Daily Readings 4-16-2023: Second Sunday of Easter

RESPONSE

Psalm 118:1

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

his mercy endures forever.

PSALM

Psalm 118:2–4, 13–15, 22–24

2 Let Israel say:

his mercy endures forever.

3 Let the house of Aaron say,

his mercy endures forever.

4 Let those who fear the LORD say,

his mercy endures forever.

13 I was hard pressed and falling,

but the LORD came to my help.

14 The LORD, my strength and might,

has become my savior.

15 The joyful shout of deliverance

is heard in the tents of the righteous:

“The LORD’s right hand works valiantly;

22 The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

23 By the LORD has this been done;

it is wonderful in our eyes.

24 This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice in it and be glad.

Catholic Daily Readings 4-16-2023: Second Sunday of Easter

SECOND READING

1 Peter 1:3–9

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you 5 who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. 6 In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 as you attain the goal of [your] faith, the salvation of your souls.

Catholic Daily Readings 4-16-2023: Second Sunday of Easter

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 20:29

29 Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

GOSPEL

John 20:19–31

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. 23  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 28  Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 4-16-2023: Second Sunday of Easter

SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 2023 | EASTER

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

YEAR A | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Acts 2:42–47

Response Psalm 118:1

Psalm Psalm 118:2–4, 13–15, 22–24

Second Reading 1 Peter 1:3–9

Gospel Acclamation John 20:29

Gospel John 20:19–31

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