First Reading – Acts of the Apostles 3: 13-15, 17-19 (47B)

Peter said to the people, “The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead.” God brought to fulfillment what the prophets announced long ago: that the Messiah would suffer.

Second Reading – 1 John 4: 2, 4, 7-8, 9

John told believers that Christ Jesus is a just intercessor who offers sacrifice for the sin of the whole world and that a person cannot know Jesus without keeping his commands.

Gospel – Luke 24: 35-48

The risen Christ appeared to the disciples and said, “Peace be with you.” The Lord ate cooked fish in their presence and discussed the law, prophets and psalms with them, opening their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Reflection of the Week

Today we celebrate the third Sunday of Easter, and the readings today highlight for us the redemptive nature of the cross and the joy of the resurrection.
In the first reading, we hear Peter tell his audience, “The author of life you put to death, but God raised Him from the dead. Of this we are witnesses.”

Christ had to die in order to rise from the dead, but we see in His resurrection that God’s plans are greater than any we can imagine. So, as His disciples and stewards of His many gifts, we give ourselves to Him as His servants know at all time – in joy and in suffering – His plans far outweigh our own. We are His disciples, and in giving Him ourselves, we ask Him to do with us what He will.