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15 April 2018
3rd Sunday of Easter
1st: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
Ps: 4:2, 4, 7, 9
2nd: 1 John 2:1-5
The Gospel of Luke 24:35-48
The disciples told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised Jesus at the breaking of bread. They were still talking about all this when Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you!’ In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said, ‘Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.’ And as he said this he showed them his hands and feet. Their joy was so great that they still could not believe it, and they stood there dumbfounded; so he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ And they offered him a piece of grilled fish, which he took and ate before their eyes.
Then he told them, ‘This is what I meant when I said, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the Psalms has to be fulfilled.’ He then opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘So you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.’
The Glory Above
Why are you agitated and why are these doubts rising in your hearts? If thoughts rise, they come from the earth. The Apostle tells us where to place our hearts: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.” (Col 3:1-4). In what glory? In the one of the resurrection. Listen to what the Apostle says referring to this body: It is sown in dishonor, it will rise in glory (1 Cor 15:43). Glory which the apostles were not willing to give to their Master, their Christ, their Lord. They did not believe that his body could have risen from the sepulchre. They thought it was a spirit; they saw the flesh but they could not believe their eyes. However, we believe them when they announce it to us without manifesting it. They could not believe Christ as he manifested himself. This is a serious wound and medicine must be applied. Why are you Agitated and why are these doubts rising in your hearts. “Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves…” You see and yet do not see. Touch and see what? “That a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And He showed them his hands and feet.
Cf. St. Augustine, On the Synoptic Gospels, Sermon 116, 2.
This week’s feasts
Sat 21 Saint Anselm of Canterbury, Bishop, Doctor
Psalter week III
Readings for 4th Sunday of Easter
1st: Acts 4:8-12
Ps: 117:1,8-9,21-23,26,28-29
2nd: 1 John 3:1-2
Gospel: John 10:11-18
Observing the Easter Celebration
Although every Sunday is a commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ, Easter is the principal feast of the ecclesiastical year. Pope St. Leo I calls it the feast of feasts (festum festorum), and says that Christmas is celebrated only in preparation for Easter which is at the centre of the Liturgical year. In fact, the date of most feasts, (Ascension, Pentecost, Sacred Heart, Corpus Christi, etc.) depend upon the Easter date. The Resurrection of Christ is actually the oldest feast of the Christian Church, as old as Christianity itself. It is also the connecting link between the Old and New Testaments, seen in the relation between the Jewish Passover and the Christian feast of Easter. Christ died on the first Jewish Passover Day; and his death and Resurrection are the whole purpose for the Old Law, which figures, types and prophecies are now fulfilled, particularly the one about the paschal lamb, eaten towards the evening of the 14th of Nisan and the Jewish feast itself was taken over into the Christian Easter celebration.
Cf. Catholic Encyclop.
Organ recital by Paul Timmins in Agia Kyriaki Monday 7 May, 12pm. Collection for Archangel Michael Hospice.
In the steps of St. Paul Presentation by Peter Walker. Tues 8 May, 6:30pm. Agia Kyriaki. Donations will go to help the author’s charity.
Parish Easter BBQ Sunday 13 May, 1:30pm at LPH. Suggested donation €10 to cover costs. Please SIGN UP by Monday 7 May at the back of the Church for catering purposes.
Dinner at Riley’s Entertainment by Joe Mac, Friday 4 May, 6:30pm Choice Menu €13. To help Caritas.
Caritas Raffle: Win a Spring Hamper, €1 Tickets at Shop. Draw 1 May.
Donate a used handbag and fill it with personal care items. Bring donations to the Coffee Shop or Contact Wendy 9904 0294
Mass Times HERE