Homily Points
Third Sunday of EASTER
General.
In our Baptism we have acquired the grace of adoption, and along with it the hope that like Christ we shall rise again with him in our body in the last days. Up till now we have achieved the joy of Easter by means of our rising from an internal, existential death which sin portends in us, and we have a warranty that every sin of ours is forgiven and buried in the baptismal font, which the Easter Vigil and this time recall in abundance.Acts of the Apostles.
Peter is here announcing the Good Tidings to the Sanhedrin which had denied the Holy and Just One and put to death the Master of life. He explains in no uncertain terms the importance of loyalty to God rather than man and that Jesus was raised from the dead and made Lord of all creation due to his obedience to the Father. Him God has made Lord and Savour for the repentance and forgiveness of the sins of His people, Israel, and witness to all this are Christ’s followers who received God’s spirit which is given to whosoever obey’s His Word. This same spirit gave them the joy of being persecuted in the name of Jesus, the Name above all names.Apocalypse of St John.
Jesus Christ, the Just One, is continually interceding for us before the Lord. He is here represented as the Lamb who is worthy of receiving power, divinity, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and blessing. This is a continuous Divine Liturgy taking place within the celestial spheres in praise of God and His Lamb, which very much reminds us of the Thrice Holy part of the Eucharist and the immediately following Consecration prayer.St John.
Jesus appears for the third time to his disciples who were still fearful and confused about his beign raised from the dead. He makes himself known to them by leading them to a big catch of fish, feeding them bread and fish which he had prepared for them on the shore. Jesus feeds, loves and expects commitment, such as that he expected from Peter on whom he built his Church. The key-words after having seen Peter’s thrice affirmed faith following his denial is "Follow me", words which Jesus also proclaims to us at the end of the Eucharistic celebration when we are dismissed to face up to a new week.