3rd Easter B

Welcome to our Bible Study
3rd Sunday of Easter B
19 April 2015
In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielito R. Almazan, OFM

1st reading: Acts 3:13-15.17-19
 13 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.
14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked
that a murderer be released to you. 15 The author of
life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead;
of this we are witnesses. 17 Now I know, brothers, that
you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did; 18
but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had
announced beforehand through the mouth of all the
prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent,
therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
wiped away.

 13 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.
14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked
that a murderer be released to you. 15 The author of
life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead;
of this we are witnesses.
 17 Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of
ignorance, just as your leaders did; 18 but God has
thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced
beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that
his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may be wiped away,
The reading is centered on the resurrected Jesus.

 13 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. 14 You
denied the Holy and Righteous
One and asked that a murderer
be released to you. 15 The
author of life you put to death,
but God raised him from the
dead; of this we are witnesses.
 17 Now I know, brothers, that
you acted out of ignorance, just
as your leaders did; 18 but God
has thus brought to fulfillment
what he had announced
beforehand through the mouth
of all the prophets, that his
Messiah would suffer. 19
Repent, therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may
be wiped away,
Commentary
The text revolves around the resurrected
Jesus. Who is the resurrected Jesus
here?
 Servant of God (of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob) v.13
 The Holy and Righteous One v.14
 The author of life v.15
 Risen from the dead v.15
 The Messiah of God v.18
This text is a part of the sermon of Peter after
the resurrection.
In this sermon (kerygma), Peter makes
contrasts between the actions of the
people and the actions of God upon this
man Jesus.
 People handed him over / denied him but
God glorified him. (Mabuti pa si Pilato, he
wanted to release him) v.13 (but you
released the murderer, wrong choice!)
 People put him to death, but God raised
him to life.v.15

 13 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.
14 You denied the Holy and
Righteous One and asked that a
murderer be released to you. 15 The
author of life you put to death, but
God raised him from the dead; of this
we are witnesses.
 17 Now I know, brothers, that you
acted out of ignorance, just as your
leaders did; 18 but God has thus
brought to fulfillment what he had
announced beforehand through the
mouth of all the prophets, that his
Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent,
therefore, and be converted, that your
sins may be wiped away,
 Peter tries to mitigate the negative
acts of the people: they acted out of
ignorance, like the leaders. V.17
 In contrast, God has fulfilled his
promise announced of old. V.18
The last line is significant. It is the bottom
line of the preaching of the apostles.
 Peter challenges the listeners to
repent…v.19

Reflections on the 1st reading
 God refuses to be outdone.
 He overturns the evil schemes of the people.
 It is useless to be sinful.
 We may enjoy our sins for a time, victimizing
other people, but remember, God takes the side
of the aggrieved.
 We sinners should now respond to the call of
repentance, meaning, we should stop doing our
foolishness.
 We should stop playing games with God and
his people.

2nd reading: 1 John 2:1-5a
 1 My children, I am writing this to you so that you
may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we
have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous one. 2 He is expiation for our sins, and
not for our sins only but for those of the whole
world. 3 The way we may be sure that we know
him is to keep his commandments. 4 Whoever
says, "I know him," but does not keep his
commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is
truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know
that we are in union with him:

 1 My children, I am writing this to you so that you
may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we
have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous one. 2 He is expiation for our sins, and
not for our sins only but for those of the whole
world. 3 The way we may be sure that we know
him is to keep his commandments. 4 Whoever
says, "I know him," but does not keep his
commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is
truly perfected in him.
The reading centers on not sinning.

Not sinning
 1 My children, I am writing this to you so that you may
not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an
Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous
one. 2 He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins
only but for those of the whole world.
Knowledge of God
 3 The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep
his commandments. 4 Whoever says, "I know him," but
does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the
truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, the
love of God is truly perfected in him.
A simple outline!

 1 My children, I am writing
this to you so that you may
not commit sin. But if anyone
does sin, we have an
Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous
one. 2 He is expiation for our
sins, and not for our sins only
but for those of the whole
world.
 3 The way we may be sure
that we know him is to keep
his commandments. 4
Whoever says, "I know him,"
but does not keep his
commandments is a liar, and
the truth is not in him. 5 But
whoever keeps his word, the
love of God is truly perfected
in him. This is the way we
may know that we are in
union with him:
Commentary:
 The author expresses his purpose in
writing: that we may not commit sin. v.1
 The author also gives hope to the sinner by
saying: Jesus Christ is an advocate with
the Father. v.1.
 Again, in the reading, we find the big role of
Jesus in our salvation from sin.
 He is the expiation… v.2 for all sinners..
 V.3 is about knowing God.
 We know him only by keeping his
commandments.
 Knowledge of God is tied down with
keeping God’s commandments.
 V.4 brands as liars those who claim to
know God, yet, do not keep his commands.
 V.5 comments that whoever keeps God’s
word will possess the perfected love of
God. We will not ask for more.
 V.5a mentions the process by which we
may know we are with God: by keeping his
word

Reflections on the 2nd reading
 Somehow we have lost the sense of sin.
 The reading reminds us that there is
such a thing as sin.
 Sin is not keeping God’s commands.
 Sin is living autonomously away from
God.
 Sin is living according to your own rules.
 When you are in sin, you don’t really
know who God is.

Gospel reading: Lk 24:35-48
 35 The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way
and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
36 While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst
and said to them, "Peace be with you." 37 But they were startled
and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 Then
he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions
arise in your hearts? 39 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." 40 And as he said this, he
showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While they were still
incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you
anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of baked fish; 43
he took it and ate it in front of them. 44 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." 45 Then he opened their
minds to understand the scriptures. 46 And he said to them, "Thus
it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on
the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from
Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

Disciples from Emmaus and their story about Jesus’ appearance
 35 The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made
known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Jesus’ appearance to the disciples in Jerusalem and proves his existence in the real
world by:
1) Asking to touch him
 36 While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them,
"Peace be with you." 37 But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were
seeing a ghost. 38 Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions
arise in your hearts? 39 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." 40 And as
he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
2) Asking for a fish and eating it
 41 While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you
anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of baked fish; 43 he took it and ate it
in front of them.
Jesus’ words and interpretation
 44 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." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. 46 And
he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead
on the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached
in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these
things.
A simple outline!

Disciples from Emmaus and their
story about Jesus’
appearance
 35 The two disciples
recounted what had taken
place on the way and how he
was made known to them in
the breaking of the bread.
Jesus’ appearance to the
disciples in Jerusalem and
proves his existence in the
real world by:
1) Asking to touch him
 36 While they were still
speaking about this, he stood
in their midst and said to them,
"Peace be with you." 37 But
they were startled and terrified
and thought that they were
seeing a ghost. 38 Then he
said to them, "Why are you
troubled? And why do
questions arise in your hearts?
39 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." 40
And as he said this, he
showed them his hands and
his feet.
Commentary
 Background: The two disciples going to Emmaus
return to Jerusalem after Jesus appears to them.
 In v.35, the two tell the story of their journey to
Emmaus and their meal in that place.
 It reminds us of Jesus accompanying them in their
confusion and sadness and enlightening them by
interpreting the Old Testament and by the breaking
of the bread (a replay of the Last Supper).
 In v.36, their story telling is disrupted (or enhanced)
by the appearance of Jesus.
 As he appears, he greets them with the greetings of
peace.
 V.37 tells of the reaction of the disciples: startled,
terrified, misreading of his appearance
 In v.38, Jesus asks a question as when he appeared
to the two going to Emmaus, implying that they
should be clarified by now.
 In v.39, Jesus assures them that it is he. He shows
to them the latest marks of his experience of
crucifixion. He is not a ghost or phantasm.
 He is still an embodied person.
 In v.40, Jesus exhibits his hands and feet.

2) Asking for a fish and eating it
 41 While they were still
incredulous for joy and were
amazed, he asked them,
"Have you anything here to
eat?" 42 They gave him a
piece of baked fish; 43 he
took it and ate it in front of
them.
Jesus’ words and interpretation
 44 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." 45 Then he
opened their minds to
understand the scriptures. 46
And he said to them, "Thus it
is written that the Messiah
would suffer and rise from the
dead on the third day 47 and
that repentance, for the
forgiveness of sins, would be
preached in his name to all the
nations, beginning from
Jerusalem. 48 You are
witnesses of these things.
 V.41 gives us a glimpse of their positive feeling
now: joy and amazement.
 There is an improvement in their reception of
Jesus.
 Jesus asks for something to eat.
 In v.42, the disciples give him a baked (broiled,
grilled) fish.
 In v.43, Jesus eats it (to prove his physical
existence).
 Why does Jesus do all these things? Very funny.
What’s really happening to the disciples?
 V.44 gives a summary of Jesus’ teachings when
he was still alive. All the scriptures have been
fulfilled in his person.
 In v.45, Jesus helps them understand the
scriptures (interpret, makes understanding easier,
to make sense or give meaning).
 V.46 makes a short conclusion of all that has
been recently done to Jesus.
 V.46b indicates the mission of the disciples:
 To preach repentance, for the forgiveness of sins.

Reflections on the gospel reading
 St. Luke is about to end his gospel. It ends at 24,53.
 St. Luke is already winding up his story. Soon he will
begin a new story in the Acts of the Apostles.
 It is the resurrection of Jesus that triggers both the
stories of Jesus and the Church.
 The resurrection brings new life, which includes new
talk, new perspective.
 Luke is telling us: we have experienced resurrection if
we are now talking about something that is new, fresh
and has not been recycled.
 If we keep on repeating again and again the same old
stories, the same hurts and blunders in our lives, we
have not yet resurrected from the dead.
 Resurrection leads us to see events in a new light.
 Every time we converse with other people, is there
anything new, enlightening and liberating in what we
say?

Tying the three readings
 We are in the Easter season. The readings are
focused on the resurrection of Christ, but along
with it, we are enjoined to repent.
 The first reading reminds us that God the Father
raises Jesus up from the dead. God intervenes in
the life (death) of Jesus. After the preaching,
(kerygma) is the invitation to repent.
 The second reading is emphatic on not sinning.
 The gospel reading portrays Jesus’ efforts to prove
his resurrection to the incredulous disciples who
are later asked to preach repentance for the
forgiveness of sins.

How to develop your homily / sharing
 The resurrection of Christ demonstrates God’s power
over the people who desire the death of his chosen
one.
 It tells straight to our hearts that the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob is dead serious about his Son. God
defends his Son by all means.
 It is useless to resist Christ and reject his teachings.
 The first reading is emphatic on conversion.
 It says, “Repent and be converted, that your sins may
be wiped away.”
 We repent from making bad decisions, wrong choices
like choosing the criminal Barabbas, instead of the
innocent Jesus; choosing evil, not good.
 We repent from putting the good guys to death or
oblivion (ignoring their goodness and strengths).

 The second reading right away tells us that we
avoid sin.
 The author of the second reading writes his
letter to us that we may avoid sin.
 The author gives us hope if ever we fall into
sin.
 We have Jesus who is our Advocate, who
pleads for our forgiveness.
 We don’t lie to ourselves, we say we love
(know) God, but never do his commands.
 It is a sin not to follow God’s commands.
 Important in our faith in the resurrection is
obedience to God’s laws.

 After having exhausted the story of Jesus’
appearances, the author of the gospel reading enjoins
the disciples to preach repentance for the forgiveness
of sins.
 We repent from our ignorance and inability to
understand the meaning of Jesus’ events.
 We are not so keen on the workings of God in our
lives, because we are too materialistic and full of
hatred or we are just lukewarm.
 We repent by paying attention to the sacred scriptures,
to the teachings of the apostles and their successors.
 When we repent, we begin again.
 We don’t repeat our old ways. We leave our empty
tombs.
 We take courage to live by the Spirit that leads us to
new ways.

 Repentance is not just the message of the Lenten Season,
but also the Easter Season.
 Repentance is our logical response to the passion, death
and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 Repentance comes about when we realize we have badly
fared in our lives in spite of God’s lavish love for us.
 We don’t wait to be punished first before we repent.
 Repentance carries with it a promise and firm purpose not
to sin again.
 Retreats, recollections, devotions or belongingness to a
charismatic group or a pious organization is useless without
practicing repentance.
 Unrepentant people will always justify why they should
violate rules and hurt people.
 The best members of our congregations or groups are
those who have learned how to repent and who frequently
go to confession.
 They perform better each time they live authentic lives
again.

 The eucharist is the reward of the repentant
sinner.
 Only those who have repented and asked
for forgiveness are entitled to receive the
holy eucharist.
 Through the eucharist, Jesus continues to
make his presence felt to the repentant
sinner.
 The eucharist energizes us to preach
repentance to all people.

Our Context
 Unrepentant sinners
and criminals
 Unable to see the
connection between
interior life and secular
life
 Unable to understand
catechism and faith
 No sense of sin
 Unformed conscience
 No conscience
 Does not grow in spirit
 Strong sense of the
right and the wrong
 Sees connection of the
resurrection with
righteous lives
 Good judgment
 Repentant, says sorry
when he / she hurts
others
 Does not repeats his /
her blunders
 Reliable to guide
others to holiness
http://olasianofm.googlepages.com/home

3rd Easter B

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