Acts 10:34, 37-43
Acts serves as a companion to Luke’s gospel, together forming a single work that chronicles Jesus’ ministry, death, and the spread of the gospel to “Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Peter’s speech is one of several key kerygmatic discourses in Acts, tailored both for Jewish audiences (2:14-39; 3:12-26; 4:9-12) and Gentiles (14:15-17; 17:22-31). These speeches, rooted in early church catechesis, highlight essential components of Jesus’ redemptive act: his death, resurrection, post-resurrection appearances, and a summary of his ministry.
Jesus’ message of salvation initially reached the Jews, fulfilling prophetic promises (10:36; Is 52:7), and his ministry is depicted starting in Galilee and culminating in Jerusalem, emphasizing healing and the role of the Holy Spirit (Lk 3:22; 4:1, 14). The apostles’ testimony is crucial, focusing on Jesus’ baptism and resurrection (vv39, 41; 2:21f), with his transformed existence evident in selective appearances (v41a).
The discourse emphasizes Christ as a universal judge (v42; 17:31), contrasting with Jewish speeches that highlight scriptural validation and culpability in Jesus’ death. It concludes with a message of universal access to God’s forgiveness through faith and repentance (vv43, 36; 2:38; 3:19).
Responsorial Psalm Ps 118
This thanksgiving psalm echoes the sentiments of an individual, perhaps the king, who here represents the experience of the collective Israel. The psalm expresses gratitude to Yahweh for deliverance in liturgical terms connected with temple worship.
Col 3:1-4
1 Cor 5:6-8
In both of the alternative second readings, Paul stresses the moral dimension of resurrection faith. In whatever we do, our attention is riveted on the heavenly values which Easter makes manifest to all humanity. “Seek what is above, where Christ is”.
Jn 20:1-9
Harmonizing the different accounts of the empty tomb and the appearances of the risen Christ across the four gospels is challenging due to varying traditions, with some emphasizing the women’s role and others focusing on the disciples. All accounts agree on the essential truth: the tomb was empty and Christ had risen.
Only John’s Gospel mentions Mary Magdalene as the sole visitor to the tomb early on the first day, whereas the synoptic gospels include other women (Mt 28:1; Mk 16:1; Lk 24:10). Mary does not enter the tomb; she infers the body’s removal from the rolled-back stone (v1) and comes to faith later with Jesus’ appearance (vv11-18).
Peter and another disciple rush to the tomb after receiving her news. The disciple whom Jesus loved remains unnamed but represents the unwavering faithful. He arrives first (v4) but defers to Peter due to his early church leadership. However, he ultimately believes first (v8) due to his deep love for the Lord.
The neatly arranged burial cloths suggest the body was not stolen, enhancing faith (vv6f). The disciples’ disbelief (except for the beloved disciple) stems from a misunderstanding of scripture (v9; Lk 24:26). This indicates a Christian reinterpretation of scriptures in light of the resurrection, possibly referencing passages like Isaiah 53 and Psalm 16:10.
Easter invites us to adopt Christ’s way of thinking and acting. It offers us a time of grace from the Lord, allowing us to move beyond a monotonous or mechanical approach to living our faith. Instead, we are called to open our hearts and lives, reaching out to others to share with them the light and joy of our faith, the new life in Christ. Amen
