Easter Thursday: Jesus in the Flesh

Scriptures

1st Reading Ideas

Acts

Acts 3:11–26 NABRE

As he clung to Peter and John, all the people hurried in amazement toward them in the portico called “Solomon’s Portico.” When Peter saw this, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why are you amazed at this, and why do you look so intently at us as if we had made him walk by our own power or piety? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence, when he had decided to release him. You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, this man, whom you see and know, his name has made strong, and the faith that comes through it has given him this perfect health, in the presence of all of you. Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did; but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away, and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment and send you the Messiah already appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the times of universal restoration of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. For Moses said: ‘A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kinsmen; to him you shall listen in all that he may say to you. Everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be cut off from the people.’ Moreover, all the prophets who spoke, from Samuel and those afterwards, also announced these days. You are the children of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he said to Abraham, ‘In your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ For you first, God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.”

Gods blessings are flowing

Luke - this is Abraham’s blessing now going to all the families of the earth

Gospel - Jesus first appearance to the Eleven

Luke 24:35–48 NABRE

Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them. He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

Jesus first appearance to the Eleven after Mary M and 2 Disciples on Road to Emaus

Peace (Shalom? Restoration?)

Human reaction

Jesus giving evidence of bodily resurrection

Jesus explaining the scriptures (fulfillment of OT)

Jesus giving basic gospel message (kerygma)

Repentance and forgiveness

In his Name

to All the Nations, beginning in Jerusalem (Isreal to the World)

Roman Missal

The Roman Missal, Third Typical Edition Thursday within the Octave of Easter

O God, who have united the many nations

in confessing your name,

grant that those reborn in the font of Baptism

may be one in the faith of their hearts

and the homage of their deeds.

Commentary

Healing of beggar

Connection of apostles to Jesus - Jesus power

Lame - “blemished” now free to worship “all through the temple”

Peter’s speech

Damning charge, but offer/opportunity for repentance (kerygma)

The blessings - time of refreshment, restoration of all things

Jesus appearance to the Eleven

After Road to Emmaus

Peace (Shalom) - Jesus is the bringer of peace; this is the greeting he taught them when going into someone’s home;

Terror - as of war

May have been overwhelming joy; to much to believe reality

Luke is making a point with Jesus bodily resurrection, not a resuscitation

Flesh and bones - bone of my bone - human; connection to humanity

Eating a meal & sharing Gods word

Feeding of 5000 - bread of life

Eucharist of early community

Process of understanding scriptures

Lectio - What is God Speaking?

To me?

We are moving from the traumatic and overwhelming events of the passion and death into understanding WTF just happened.

Jesus is helping us (Gospel writer shows us the process) - meet/confronted by Jesus/may not recognize him

We hear (Word) touch and taste (Eucharist) and relationship (with one another-love)

Opening of eyes (no longer blind) to see the fulfillment of the scriptures

For all - the basic gospel message - repent and be forgiven; believe and new life (blessings: refreshment and restoration)

This is about evidence for a bodily resurrection - leading to belief - // apostles acting in name (likeness) of Jesus demonstrating power to lead to belief and openness to the gospel message. A time for all to be able to receive (even those who crucified Jesus - “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

Jesus - the crucified Messiah was a radical message to all - Jews, Greeks and Romans - unexpected/countercultural

For our Community?

Drawn deeper into the reality of what is happening at Mass - refreshment - eyes opened to the scriptures

The change it should bring about in our lives, as those who believe and receive the Holy Spirit

Action - leads us to go out share our experience, pray with others, free captives (helping those most in need)

Our community needs Jesus/Gospel/Spirit - divisions; warped ideology; abortion; death penalty; lack of charity to our neighbors; violence in our neighborhoods (shooting Tues); drug addiction; difficulties in our schools, racism, discrimination

Persons own personal difficulties - health, relationships, aging, work stress, --- friends own family issues; children leaving the church, indifferent

Parish Small efforts:

SVDP; KofC food; working with COOS, improve our physical space; Discussion Groups BW; LGBTQ -

The Black & White discussion group invites you to a presentation and question & answer session with Esther Thomas, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the City of Akron.

Key Theme (Head/Heart)

We who have been reborn in baptism should experience refreshment, restoration & peace (shalom)

Experience of Jesus in the midst of trial leads to this experience of shalom

Homily

It has been a hectic week for me;

Witness many troubles of others, our community

Sometimes the question arises: what difference does Jesus make?

Scriptures

Disciples in great turmoil, anxiety and fear - in hiding/laying low

Rome was still there;

They are outcasts in the Jewish community

All expectations for Jesus “kingdom” dashed

Then Jesus shows up

Triggered terror - as in war/PTSD; overwhelming

Jesus greets them with “Shalom” as he taught them to enter into others homes

It describes an international calm and a relationship of goodwill between God and humans.

Most frequently it describes a social reality, a state of reconciliation and wholeness among a group of people.

Jesus provides the physical evidence of his risen body

Gospel writer Luke, the physician is giving evidence of eyewitnesses to Jesus bodily resurrection

In the flesh and bone - flesh of my flesh/bone of my bone - Genesis - Jesus is human, shares our humanity now in risen form

Not a ghost

Jesus meets them (like Emmaus) in a meal - the fish (feeding of the multitude) - and explains the scriptures

We are to look to the scriptures to see God’s plan fulfilled in Jesus

The gospel of reconciliation, restoration through repentance and forgiveness in the name of Jesus (kerygma)

In Acts - Peter is Preaching this same gospel now

Further evidence of Jesus in his apostles are doing the same works Jesus did

Restoration of the lame - one who is blemished, excluded from participation in worship (placed at the gate of the temple) - now entering the temple jumping and praising God!

This is what is available for all people (even a 2nd chance for those who crucified Jesus)

Repentance and forgiveness - which leads to times of refreshment and universal restoration

Refreshment - like a drink of cold water

Universal restoration - our own lives here and now, but also the future transformation of all our world

It is not just a human endeavor, it depends on people receiving the gospel and believing.

Let us meet Jesus today in the breaking of the bread and his word.

Jesus wants us to experience him

His promise is refreshment, restoration, …Shalom

May we believe and receive that Jesus has risen - in the flesh - for us.