3rd Sunday of Easter

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ericka Filipowicz for organizing and leading the Holy Hour on Divine Mercy Sunday and Maria for putting the program together. I would like to thank those who were directly and indirectly involved in this special event. I was greatly surprised how many people came to say their prayers in front of the Blessed Sacrament. There are always many blessings granted when we come together to praise the Lord.

In today's Readings we are once more reminded that Jesus suffered for the forgiveness of sins. The Apostle Peter was the leader of the apostles, chosen by Christ Himself to be in that position. In the book of Acts, after the apostles received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, Peter began confidently proclaiming the Gospel. In today's Reading. Peter recounts the event of Jesus' crucifixion, speaking to the crowd that advocated for Jesus' crucifixion. Peter proclaims that this Jesus who wa crucified was not any mere man. In fact, a correct understanding of the Old Testament reveals that Jesus is the expected Messiah, who is God in the flesh. Peter and others are eye witnesses to the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. And Jesus can forgive their sins if they will "repent" and "be converted."

In the Second Reading, we read that Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. The Apostle John's message here is twofold. 1.) avoid sin and keep God's commandments; and 2.) when you do sin, repent and accept Jesus' forgiveness. The reality is that we all sin and there are consequences for our sins. But the message of the Gospel is that Jesus died in order to offer forgiveness of our sins. He is "an Advocate with the Father," interceding on our behalf. Jesus is "expiation" for the sins of the whole world. Jesus came to fix our broken relationship with God that is the result of sin. There is no one Jesus did not die for. He offers forgiveness of sins to everyone. However His forgiveness does not mean we can live however we want. Many people say, "it doesn't matter what I do because God will forgive me anyways." This can't be further from the truth. We must truly repent of our sins in order to receive forgiveness. Even more, the sure sign of knowing God is keeping His commands.

This passage immediately follows the famous "Road to Emmaus" account of two disciples encountering the risen Lord on their journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the day of the resurrection. In that account, the disciples did not recognize Jesus until He broke bread with them, an allusion to His presence in the Eucharist. These events also take place on Easter Sunday. Here Jesus appears to the disciples and offers them peace. He calms their fars by reassuring them that it is He through showing them His wounds and even eatin a piece of fish to prove that He is not a ghost. As one might imagine, they were amazed. Jesus not only assured them it was Him but "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures," revealing to them that the Old Testament had, in fact, taught that the Messiah would have to suffer, die, and rise again. Therefore, they came to understand these events.

As we continue our journey towards our heavenly kingdom. Let us keep in mind that Jesus suffered in our place for the forgiveness of our sins. Let us call upon the Spirit of Christ to teach us to perceive the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, the tremendous love that Jesus has for each of us.

                                             God Bless All of Us

                                                               Fr. D

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