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Institute for Homiletics

A Collaboration of The Catholic Foundation and the University of Dallas

Easter

Scripture Study for

Animosity arose between the apostles and certain segments within the Jewish community. This caused Paul to discontinue ministering to the Jews and to turn to the Gentiles. The passage might suggest that all the Jews rejected the gospel and only Greek-born Jews were open to it, when in fact it was probably only the leaders of the synagogue who contradicted Paul and blasphemed against Jesus. Paul reinterprets a Servant Song of Isaiah, which declares that salvation will come to the Gentiles through the agency of the people of God. He thus claims that he,  Paul, will be God’s light to the Gentiles. 

The multitude in John’s vision is international in character. The people come from every nation, race, people, and tongue, thus fulfilling a promise made to  Abraham that he would be the father of a host of nations (Genesis 17:4). The  “blood of the Lamb” is a reference to Christ’s redemptive sacrifice. It is also a reference to the baptism of the individuals gathered together, for it was through baptism that they were incorporated into Christ’s death. It is because they have endured and have been made pure by Christ that they can stand before God and worship day and night without end. 

Jesus’ sheep hear his voice, recognize it, and follow him. This image implies intimate knowledge between Jesus and his followers and unquestioning trust on the part of the followers. Jesus promises that if the sheep heed his voice they will never perish. Since he wields power over death, he will certainly protect them from lesser evils. He has the right to exercise this kind of authority over the sheep because they have been given to him by God. All that Jesus says and does is the actual embodiment of God’s will and not just behavior that conforms to it. Since  Jesus and his Father are so closely joined, the shepherd who cares for the sheep is indeed one with God. 

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Profile of an Easter People

Each reading today calls us to live out our faith in the risen Lord in a particular way. Acts calls us to be courageous witnesses to Christ the Lord. The apostles have been hauled into court before the high priest and the other religious leaders of the Sanhedrin, the supreme religious council in Jerusalem. Peter argues that the Sanhedrin’s command to cease teaching about Jesus must yield to a higher call to witness in the Spirit whom the living God has given to them. In that same spirit, Pope Paul VI reminded us that the modern person listens more willingly to witnesses more than to teachers, and if he or she listens to teachers it is because they are witnesses. 

Revelation affirms that the proper response to Easter is to give glory and praise to the Lamb and to God who sits on the throne. Augustine told us that we are an Easter people and alleluia is our song. Each Sunday we gather as worshipers. Worship of the Lamb leads to witness, which then leads to worship.

The final encounter in John’s Gospel is between Jesus and Peter. Jesus comes to Peter asking, “Do you love me?” then “Feed my lambs.” The witness of the Lord and worshiper of the Lamb is also to be a lover of the Lord’s little ones. All three of these activities flow from our baptism. All three are to be done not as solo activities but as part of the body of Christ. 

Consider/Discuss

  • Do you see your call to be a disciple as including the call to witness,  worship, and watch out for the lowly and the least? 
  • How does your faith community help you to live out your calling? 

Responding to the Word

Strengthen us, Jesus, to witness with conviction to our faith in you as Lord and  Savior. May the Holy Spirit lead us to praise and honor the Father through you all our days, and find clear expression in caring for your people by working for justice and peace for all.

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Scripture Study for

The court scene depicted in the first reading describes apostles who are courageous witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus and heralds of this wondrous event to the world. They have been so successful that the high priest is concerned that the temper of the people may have changed and the ruling body might be blamed for Jesus’ death. Peter then launches into a sermon consisting of the fundamental apostolic proclamation. God has reversed the plans of those who put Jesus to death, raising him from the dead and exalting him in a place of honor at  God’s own right hand. 

The vision that John describes reveals the heavenly throne room, where angels,  living creatures, and elders surround the throne of God. The living creatures are reminiscent of the figures that stood guard at the entrance of temples. Twenty-four elders join the four living creatures and the angels in praise. Although the focus is the investiture of the Lamb, the message behind the vision is more specifically theological than Christological. God, not the Lamb, is seated on the throne. Worship of and devotion to Christ must be understood in terms of his relationship with God. To this all cry out, Amen! 

Even Jesus’ intimate companions did not recognize the risen Lord. Here recognition comes through his actions, not through his words. Only after the disciples pulled in the multitude of fish did they know it was he. Jesus’ exchange with Peter has many links with Peter’s earlier denial of him. Sobered by that denial, Peter does not now declare that he is capable of being more faithful than the others.  Three times Peter denied; three times he is called upon to declare his love. When he does, he is commissioned to assume the role of shepherd in the place of  Jesus. He is now a shepherd who can show compassion to those who have failed.  As shepherd, he will suffer a fate similar to that which Jesus suffered. 

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Risen Lord, Gift Giver

One of the nicest things about the Easter season is that it has escaped much of the commercialization of Christmas. For most, the urge to shop is not part of this great feast. And when you think of Easter music, hymns, and hallelujahs come to mind; there are only a few Easter songs. Is there something about this feast so sacred that even the merchandisers have refrained from exploiting it? 

At the same time, today’s Gospel reminds us that while we do not get caught up with gift-giving, Easter is still a season to remember the gifts unique to it,  those the risen Lord brought when he appeared to the apostles hiding in the upper room behind locked doors. The crippling fear they suffered was released by these gifts. 

First, he gives them peace (shalom), which stands for all God’s blessings that can enrich human life. Then he breathes the Holy Spirit on them—the great gift of the risen Lord, allowing them to offer God’s forgiveness to all who seek it. Finally,  there is the gift of faith, the ability to believe without seeing, to read the signs  God so generously scatters throughout our world. All these gifts are manifestations of the Spirit. 

In our first reading, we witness the gift of the Spirit found at work in Peter healing the sick and delivering those “disturbed by unclean spirits.” And the Spirit is found in the visions given to John the Seer in Revelation, so we might have hope in God who has overturned the power of death. 

Consider/Discuss

  • Have any of the Easter gifts mentioned helped you to see with the eyes of faith? 
  • Have you known Easter’s gifts—peace, forgiveness, healing, and hope—as able to free you from fear? 

Responding to the Word

Risen Lord, you continue to come to us when we lock ourselves away from the world out of fear. Breathe upon us and send your Spirit to give us the courage to go forth and bring your gifts to others. We thank you for the gifts of the Easter season.

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Scripture Study for

“Signs and wonders” refers to the miracles that the apostles were able to accomplish through the divine power bestowed on them by Jesus. This passage is probably a collection of motifs rather than a coherent summary. It states that some people were afraid to join the community of believers; it then contradicts itself by claiming that great numbers were added to their ranks. Actually, both were probably true. The great accomplishments of the early Christians certainly struck fear in the hearts of some, while at the same time they attracted others.  Fear and admiration can and do exist side by side, especially when the power of  God is evident. 

John is caught up by the Spirit and is commissioned by God as were the prophets of old. The function of his vision is twofold: it clarifies the nature of his task,  and it confers divine authority on it. John is gripped with fear, literally frightened to death. The figure in the vision responds with the standard declaration of reassurance: Fear not! Do not be afraid! The figure then identifies himself with the classic divine self-revelation: I am! (égó eími). The figure in the vision clearly takes to himself divine characteristics. This vision is not merely for John; it is clearly meant for the churches as well. 

It is on the evening of the Resurrection day itself that the Holy Spirit is bestowed on the disciples, who are then commissioned to go forth and declare salvation and judgment. The absent Thomas represents the second generation of Christians, those called to believe through the testimony of others. The faith required of him is, in a way, more demanding than that required of those who actually encountered the risen Lord. Viewed in this way, his doubt might be more understandable. According to Jesus, as profound as was Thomas’ ultimate faith, it does not compare with the faith of those who do not enjoy the kind of experience of the Lord described here. 

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