3^rd SUNDAY OF EASTER-C

I Reading: Acts 5:27-32.40-41: We are witnesses of all this, we and the Holy Spirit. Peter puts obedience to God before obedience to men.

II Reading: Apocalypse 5:11-14: The Lamb that was sacrificed is worthy to be given riches and power.

Gospel: John 21:1-19: Jesus stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish.

The Great reality of Jesus’ Resurrection Body, Jn 21:1-14

Jesus proved the great reality of His resurrection body. He showed that He really did arise from the dead. Death has been conquered and people could now live forever.

1. Jesus appeared again (v.1-3)

a. Afterward-after these things: proof of the resurrection, 20:1-31

b. To seven disciples who were together: hiding for fear of the authorities

c. Peter went fishing: To meet the need for food

d. A needed lesson: Self-sufficiency is inadequate-must know and depending upon the risen Lord

2. Jesus stood on the shore bodily (v.4)

a. An immediate presence

b. A bodily presence

3. Jesus possessed supernatural knowledge (v.5-8)

a. He acted on his supernatural knowledge

b. He was identified: “The Lord”

c. Peter accepted John’s word as proof and he responded

d. The other disciple (John) responded and followed

4. Jesus showed the reality of their surroundings (v.9)

a. The land and fire

b. The fish and bread

5. Jesus showed that he could see, speak, hear and feel (v.10-11)

a. He instructed the disciples

b. Peter obeyed

c. The catch of fish was counted

6. Jesus showed that his body was real (v.12-13)

a. He invited them to eat

b. He was the Lord

c. He himself ate

7. Conclusion: Jesus’ resurrection was affirmed

The Great Question of Disciple’s Love and Devotion, Jn 21:15-17

This is a critical passage for the church and its ministers. It has one great lesson: love is the one basic essential for ministry. Without love, ministry counts for nothing in God’s eyes. This passage concerns three questions asked by our Lord.

1. After the meal, Jesus focused on Peter (v.15)

2. Do you love me more than these? (v.15)

a. Pointed to disciples

b. Pointed to fishing equipment

c. Feed my lambs

3. Do you love me with God’s love-love me enough to feed my people? (v.16)

a. God’s love (agape)=sacrificial love of God

b. Peter’s love (phileo)=blood relationship or relative love of Peter, (erotic love)=emotional or feelings or attractions love of people

c. Feed my sheep/tend my sheep

4. Do you love me as a royal brother-love me with agape love or phileo love? (v.17)

a. Lord’s love (agape)=sacrificial love

b. Peter’s love (phileo)=relational love

c.  Feed my sheep

thought: Agape love is a seed that can be planted in the heart only by Christ. It is a fruit of the Spirit of God. It is a great love that God holds for His Son (Jn 15:10; 17:26). Agape love was perfectly expressed when God gave up His own Son to die for humanity (2Cor 5:14;Eph 2:4;3:19;5:2).

Agape love holds believers together as Jesus held his disciples for three years. Agape love is the love believers are to have for one another (Jn 13:33-35; 1 Jn 3:17-18). Agape love is the love which believers are to have for all people (1Cor 16:14; 1Th 3:12; 2Pet 1:7). Thus agape love seeks the welfare of all, works no ill to its neighbour, seeks opportunities to do good to all especially to those of the household of faith and is proven by obedience to Christ. Doing as one wishes instead of doing as God wills shows that one does not have agape love. (Jn 14:15,21,23;15:10;1Jn 2:5;5:3; 2Jn 1:6)

Thought: The greatest of all tragedies is that some still do not accept and believe the Lord’s death and resurrection despite the irrefutable evidence.

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 2^nd SUNDAY OF EASTER-C

I Reading: Acts 5:12-16: The numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily.

II Reading: Apocalypse 1:9-13.17-19: I was dead and now I am to live forever and ever.

Gospel: John 20:19-31: Eight days later, Jesus came.

The Great Character of the Church-Jesus Appears to the Disciples,

John 20:19-23

This was the first appearance of Jesus to His disciples as a group after His resurrection. What would His talk and conversation be about? John focuses on the subjects and topics discussed when Jesus first appeared to the disciples.

1.    The disciples were hiding in fear (v.19)

a.    Was the same day: at night

b.   Discussed reports

c.    Jesus appeared suddenly

2.    Subject 1: The Risen Lord-His presence was very real (v.19-20)

a.    His message: Peace

b.   His wounds: Evidence

c.    His effect: Unbelievable joy and gladness when they saw Him

3.    Subject 2: The Great Commission to forgive and retain sins as priests (v.21)

4.    Subject 3: The Holy Spirit (v.22-23)

a.    The endowment or the giving of the Spirit

b.   The authority

 

The Great Conviction-Thomas’ Confession, John 20:24-29

This is an excellent study on conviction and confession. It is the great conviction and confession of Thomas.

1.    Thomas’ frustrated reactionary spirit (v.24-25)

a.    The disciples testified; Thomas argued

b.   The reason: Guilt-he had forsaken and withdrawn from them

2.    Thomas’ false picture of Jesus (v.25-26).

a.    He was just an earthly deliverer

b.   He was now dead

c.    Result: persistent doubt for eight days

3.    Thomas’ critical confrontation and confession: Jesus appeared and challenged and convicted him (v.26-28)

a.    The confrontation

1)   Jesus was aware of Thomas’ demands

2)   Jesus warned and called for belief

4.    Thomas’ great lesson for all men (v.29)

 

The Great Purpose of the Signs (Wonderful Works) of Jesus, 20:30-31

 It is quite clear that the gospel writers did not include all that Jesus did in their gospels. A few signs are recorded which are very essential for people according to the plan of God. The word “Sign” chosen by John who demonstrates that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. In these two verses, John gives the great purpose of the sings.

1.    The great fact: Jesus did many signs or wonderful works (v.30)

a.    In the disciples’ presence

b.   Not recorded by John

2.    The great purpose: To select a few signs that would lead to belief (v.31)

a.    Jesus is the Messiah

b.   Jesus is the Son of God

3.    The great result: Life through Jesus’ name

Thought: Jesus gave all the evidence in the world:

·     Acts of love and purity

·     Acts of righteousness and justice

·     Works of mercy and compassion

·     Works of miracles and power

·     Works of godliness and sovereignty

·     Words of truth and salvation

·     Words of peace and faith

·     Words of hope and joy

·     Words of morality and discipline

·     Words of commitment and self-denial

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EASTER SUNDAY, MASS OF THE DAY-Year A, B, C

I Reading: Acts 10: 34, 37-43: Peter’s Testimony-We have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection.

II Reading: Colossians 3:1-4: Life with Christ-You must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is.

Gospel: John 20:1-9: He must rise from the dead.

 

The Great Discovery-The Empty Tomb, 20:1-10

In studying John’s account, it must be remembered that John was writing a historical account. He was not interested in giving insurmountable evidence for the resurrection. His interest was twofold:

(1) To give the evidence that led him to immediately understand and believe.

(2) To give enough evidence to lead anyone to immediate belief-if a person is willing to believe.

He was interested in giving enough evidence to make anyone’s faith viable and respectable. Now having said this, John’s record of Jesus’ resurrection is a strong historical account of the event. To an honest, objective and good heart, the evidence is convincing (Lk 8: 15).

1.    John’s gospel eliminates any possibility of his fabricating a lie, especially a lie of such immoral proportions.

2.    The phenomenal event actually took place. Peter and John’s running and John’s outrunning Peter; Mary’s human response of frantic bewilderment; the author’s fearing and hesitating to enter a tomb; the author’s believing without physical fact and admitting that his belief was not based upon an understanding of Scripture.

3.    The head wrapping is strong evidence of the resurrection. Only the headpiece is actually said to be folded up by itself. The other pieces are assumed to be still folded up because of the phrase “separate from the linen.”

4.    The changed lives of the Lord’s disciples are indisputable evidence. It is psychological evidence. They were propelled by dynamic power and bold courage. They preached and proclaimed the risen Christ to the very people who were seeking to arrest and execute them because the Lord had indeed risen, and He had planted within them a dynamic new power never before experienced by man.

In discussing pieces of evidence, we must remember that God through inspiration has not formulated the Scripture that He is (exists), that He is love and that He has shown His love supremely by sending His own Son to save a lost and dying world. What God wants from us is to love and believe, love for the Lord Jesus and belief in the supreme power of a loving God. This is just the point of the resurrection account. We are to believe because we love even as Mary and John loved (Mt 28:1; Jn 20:7-10; Heb 11:6; 1Jn 3:23).

1.    Mary’s unquestioning discovery: The unsealed tomb (v.1-2)

a.    She visited early

b.    She saw the stone rolled back

c.     She ran to Peter

d.    She revealed unquestioning love: “They have taken the Lord”

2.    Peter and John’s shocking discovery: The strips of linen (v.3-6)

a.    They ran to the tomb

b.    John glanced in: Saw the strips of linen

c.     Peter entered: Saw the strips of linen

3.    John’s thoughtful discovery: The undisturbed strips of linen (v.7-10)

a.    The strips of linen

1)    They were lying “undisturbed”

2)    The head wrapping was still folded

b.    The immediate belief

1)    John saw and believed

2)    He finally understood the Scripture

Thought: It is because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that there is an empty tomb and not the other way.

 

WISHING YOU A JOYFUL EASTER & PEACE & JOY OF THE RISEN CHRIST!

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 THE EASTER VIGIL-Year C

I Reading: Romans 6:3-11

Gospel: Luke 24:1-12

JESUS’ EMPTY TOMB: ITS DISCOVERY, 24:1-12

None of the synoptic accounts agree in the details of the empty tomb. Luke, for instance, records two angels, as also does John. These apparent discrepancies rather tend to be proofs of historicity. The information by those who were present, the source material of the evangelists, was bound to vary for they had witnessed the most stupendous event in human history, the event without which the Christian faith would have no meaning.

The empty tomb was empty. Discovering the empty tomb was the greatest discovery in human history. However, the great tragedy is that most people either are not aware that Jesus arose or do not believe that He arose. Every person has to discover the fact for himself. The empty tomb and the risen Lord have to become a personal discovery for every person.

1.    The first day of the week (v.1)

2.    The first witness of the resurrection (v.1)

3.    The great stone rolled away (v.2)

4.    The body missing from the tomb (v.3)

5.    The two angels and their unbelievable message (v.4-8)

a. Their dazzling clothes

b. Their question

c. Their proclamation

d. Their reminder of Jesus’ prophecy

6. The immediate unbelief of the apostles (v.9-11)

a. The message of the resurrection is carried by women-initially

b. The message of the resurrection is accepted as nonsense

7. The continued unbelief of Peter (v.12)

a. He ran to see-hopefully

b. He saw evidence: Linen clothes folded and off to the side

c. He wondered

Thought: What is needed is to do as Peter did: run to the tomb to see what really did happen.

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 HOLY THURSDAY-YEAR –C

CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

(THE LAST SUPPER OF JESUS)

I Reading: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

II Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Gospel: John 13: 1-15

We have gathered this evening not as individuals but as a family to commemorate the Last Supper or the Last Meal of our Lord Jesus on earth before the night he suffered. He is in our midst and we are around Him, as the twelve disciples were with Him. Jesus is already in our midst though we cannot see him with our eyes of flesh, he welcomes us at this very moment, repeating to us the very words he spoke to his twelve disciples on that occasion. “I have eagerly desired to eat this meal with you” (Lk 22:15).

On this Holy Thursday, Jesus instituted the two sacraments: The sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and the sacrament of the Holy Priesthood.

We are lucky to have the priests of the Lord to celebrate the Eucharist in this church daily and all over the world to eat and drink the Body and the Blood of Jesus Christ.

The readings of today speak to us about the three groups of people:

1.    The Jewish family: God gave instructions to the people of Israel through Moses to celebrate the most important event of the year: The Passover Meal. That meal was meant to remind them how their ancestors had been delivered from the slavery of Pharaoh in Egypt. In celebrating the Passover, the eyes of the Jews were set on their past: they praised God for the love he had shown to their ancestors.

2.    The group of the twelve disciples around Jesus: The Gospel speaks of a new family created by Jesus and his twelve disciples; who represent the new Israel and new people of God or the New Church of Jesus Christ.

At this time Jesus was giving the Passover Meal a new meaning. At his Last Supper, Jesus celebrated a new deliverance, one he would carry out the next day on the cross: the deliverance not just of one nation but of all mankind from the slavery of the devil; he would obtain it at the price of his own blood. Jesus anticipated the deliverance, so to say: he took bread, and by his power, he changed it into his Body. He took a cup filled with wine and changed the wine into his own Blood. He gave his Body and Blood to his disciples for them to eat and drink. He said to them “Do this in memory of me.”

 Jesus gave his twelve disciples the power to do what he had just done. They were to do it time and again till he would again, that is, until the end of time.

The word Eucharist means thanksgiving. Jesus instituted it both to carry out the deliverance of people from sin and to thank his Father for that same deliverance.

Jesus performed three main actions at his Last Supper:

i)                He washed the feet of his twelve disciples.

ii)             He instituted the Holy Eucharist.

iii)           He gave to his disciples the new commandment of love.

These three actions were meant to go inseparably together: service and love for the brothers and sisters in the community were to precede and follow the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

3.    The Christian community at Corinth: In the second reading of today Paul rebukes his Christians of Corinth in strong terms because they did not celebrate the Eucharist the way the Lord had commanded. There was something very wrong with their mutual love and lack of concern for the poorer members of the community which was very harmful. That moved Paul to warn them in the strongest terms: if they went on celebrating the Eucharist without mutual love, their community was in very serious danger (1Cor 11:30).

The Eucharist is essential to the life of the Christian community; without it, the Church would cease to exist. The readings of today provide precious guidance for the Christian community to celebrate the Eucharist the way Jesus wanted it celebrated.

When celebrating the Eucharist we should keep our mind fixed on the past, which is on the Last Supper and on Jesus’ Passion, remembering that he saved us from the slavery of sin at the cost of his life. We should also keep in mind in the present that Jesus goes on with his work of setting us free of sin each time we celebrate the Eucharist. We should also keep our thought fixed on the future, waiting for his final coming when he will set us completely free, free forever.

Christ wants us to celebrate the Eucharist not individually but as a family (Ex 12:11). On this day we must ask God to give us priests from our children in the believing Christian families to carry out the mission of Jesus on this earth and to establish the kingdom of God in the world, especially in this parish church.

The Demonstration of Royal Service, John 13: 1-17

The disciples had been arguing over who would hold the leading positions in the government Jesus was about to set up (cp. Lk 22:24; Mk 10:35-45, esp.v.41). They were caught up in the ambition for position, power and authority. How the heart of Jesus must have been cut! He had so little time left for them to learn that the way to glory is through service and not through position and authority. it was this that led Jesus to wash the disciples’ feet and to demonstrate what true royalty is: serving others.

1.    In the Upper Room right before the Passover (v.1)

2.    The impetus for royal service (v.1-2)

a.    Knowing His time, His hour had come

b.    Loving His followers to the very end

c.     Knowing His enemies

3.    The extreme demonstration of royal service (v.3-5)

a.    Knowing His mission

b.    Laying aside His outer clothing

c.     Washing the disciples’ feet

4.    The prerequisite for royal service: washing and cleaning (v.6-11)

a.    Washing is misunderstood

b.    Washing has a deeper meaning: spiritual cleansing

c.     Washing is requested

d.    Washing is thorough and permanent

e.     Washing is not automatic nor by association

5.    The meaning of royal service (v.12-14)

a.    To serve Jesus as Teacher and Lord

b.    To serve other believers royally, sacrificially, leading them to be washed and cleansed

6.    The reasons for royal service (v.15-17)

a.    Because of Jesus’ example

b.    Because believers are not as great as the Lord

c.     Because of the resulting joy

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 PASSION SUNDAY (Palm Sunday)

Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem

I Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7: I did not cover my face against insult- I know I shall not be shamed.

II Reading: Philippians 2:6-11: He humbled himself, but God raised him high.

Gospel: Luke 22:14-23:56: The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke

The triumphal Entry: Jesus’ Claim to be King, Lk 19:28-40

Today we are starting the Holy Week, the most important time of our Year of Worship.

Jesus died, yet he still lives on. He went up to heaven but continues to live in our midst. As we have gathered for this Church Service he too has come, faithful to his promise given in the Gospel, to be in the midst of his disciples at prayer (Mt 18:20).

He comes not only to listen but also to speak. He will not be a passive onlooker but active at his work of saving us.

We have gathered to re-enact what happened on that first Psalm Sunday when Jesus went from Bethany to Jerusalem.

The people taking part have changed; there are no apostles and no Jews; we have taken their place. But the same Jesus present there is also present here.

This Sunday has two names: Psalm Sunday and Passion Sunday. This sounds a bit strange; it sounds like saying that it is a Sunday to rejoice and a Sunday to mourn. Well, it is precisely that, as we shall find as the service proceeds:

In the first part of the service, we remember the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem acclaimed by all the people. The procession started from Bethany, the village of Lazarus, Martha and Mary, and ended in the Temple of Jerusalem.

During the second part, inside the church, we shall remember Jesus’ passion and death both in the readings and in the celebration of the Eucharist.

Our procession will end up in the church, which represents Jerusalem. Let no one think that this procession is some sort of entertainment. Jesus will walk in our midst, and we are going to acclaim him as our king, the king of our families, of our village and of each one of us. Our hymns and prayer will amount to a firm promise to serve Him and Him alone.

Let now listen attentively to what the Gospel tells us about Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem.

A. The central message contained in the narration:

a) Jesus was the Messiah awaited by the people of Israel

b) Jesus was the Messiah announced by the prophets

B. What were the thoughts that occupied the mind of Jesus as he entered Jerusalem acclaimed by all the people?

C. Christ accepts whatever we offer insincerity of heart and makes use of it to save us.

This was a dramatic picture. Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem began the last week of his life. It is what we call Holy Week or Psalm Sunday. Jesus was unquestionably claiming to be king, but He was claiming to be a different kind of king, a king who was different from what people usually conceived. He was claiming to be the king of peace, the king whose kingdom is not of this earth (Jn 19:36).

1. There was a constraint to go to Jerusalem: To suffer and die (v.28)

2. There was the deliberate claim to be king (v.29-35)

a. He planned a dramatic demonstration in detail

b. He used the title “the Lord” in laying claim to men’s property

c. His instructions were carefully followed

d. He accepted the recognition of the disciples

3. There were the people’s proclaiming Him to be king (v.36-38)

4. There was the insistent claim of Jesus; He was to be proclaimed king bye the people (v.39-40)

a. Religionists rebuked Him

b. Jesus insisted that proclaiming Him king was inevitable

Thought: Jesus worshipped and kept the feasts of the Jews. He did not neglect the meeting together with others. The disciples knew this (Heb 10:25)

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