Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Third Sunday of Easter, Year B – April 15, 2018.

Readings: Acts 3:13-15,17-19; Ps 4:2,4,7,9; 1 John 2:1-5; Gospel – Luke 24:35-48.

Theme: The Post-Easter Mandate and the Call to Repentance!

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, our liturgy calls us as a Post-Easter People to reflect on repentance as a necessary recipe for salvation. In doing this reflection, we shall scan the readings on the basis of theological, pastoral and practical lessons while indicating how it applies to our daily lives. It suffices to say that the Post-Easter period challenges us to demonstrate the demands of the Easter Season in terms of living out the values of the season and propagating the gospel to the ends of the earth.

A Resume of the Readings

In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 3:13-15,17-19), the early Christians were charged by St. Peter to repent and turn to God so as to have their sins forgiven. What is more, the Apostle Peter went memory lane to state how the events all began – he further stressed that it was the God of the Israelites, namely the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who glorified Jesus whom they handed over to be killed. He also mentioned how Pilate hand the chance to save the anointed one but did not which resulted in the accusation and condemnation of a just and innocent man who was murdered in place of a murderer. 

Peter emphasised that the Good News is that God raised him from the dead – a resurrection which they were witnesses to. He stressed that these events happened in fulfilment of prophesies of old that the Christ would suffer and so enter into his glory. This was the reason he insisted on the call to repentance to receive God’s forgiveness. 

In like manner, in the second reading (1 John 2:1-5), St. John charges us to stop sinning. He, however, stressed that if anyone commits sin, he has the opportunity to repent because we have an advocate with the father. Again, the theme of repentance comes out strongly. The Apostle, therefore, maintained that we must keep the commandments and accept the truth of the gospel noting that when we admit the truth, “God love comes to perfection in us.” 

The gospel of Luke (Lk. 24:35-48) records the appearances of Jesus to the Apostles on their way to Emmaus - how they recognised him at the breaking of the bread and how he appeared to the collage of Apostles with the greeting “Peace be with you” – How he showed them his hands and his feet; how their hearts were filed with joy and how he ate with them. 

After reiterating what he told the Emmaus-disciples, we are told that he opened their eyes to the scriptures and said: “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.” He surmised thus: “You are witnesses to this.” Again, the theme on the call to repentance comes out prominently. What then are the types of repentance?

Types of Repentance

1. Personal Repentance: This is a personal inner conviction that comes from an interior disposition that I have wronged my nieghbour or sinned against God. Without this realisation, it is difficult for anybody to acknowledge sin, seek repentance or reform. This is the first step in seeking repentance.  

2. Communal Repentance: Here, a group of persons who have hurt others may seek ways of making amends. The communal dimension of repentance demands that we seek reconciliation with other communities we have hurt or ask for God’s intervention as a community during famine or pestilence. This calls for fraternal correction (Matthew 18:15-19).

3. Sacramental Repentance: This is where the sacrament of reconciliation comes in. Since the mortal sins (I John 5:16-18) we commit severs our relationship with our nieghbours, God and his Church, it is proper that we approach the Minister of God who has the divine mandate (John 20:23) to reconcile us with our nieghbours, God and his Church.

Without approaching repentance from personal, communal and sacramental levels, it is difficult to be truly at peace with ourselves, with our nieghbours and with God. This is why our liturgy challenges us embrace the call to repentance as a Post-Easter People.  

Practical Lessons

1. Our liturgical challenges us as individuals to seek personal repentance through an interior disposition to look the areas where we have disappointed ourselves, our nieghbours and God and reform;

2. Rather than take to self-pity which sometimes leads to destructive tendencies like suicide, we are charged seek professional help when we feel that all is lost be approaching a counsellor to assist us in being reconciled to God;

3. Various communities be they in the Church or secular society are equally reminded about the importance of the communal dimension of repentance which is meant to help pious societies, religious groups or villages seek genuine reconciliation with aggrieved partners;

4. For us Catholics, the importance of the Sacrament of reconciliation can never be overemphasised because it reconciles us with ourselves, our neighbours and ultimately with God;

5. The Post Easter mandate is that we not only embrace the call to repentance but take the Good News of God’s kingdom which always assures of his mercies to the ends of the earth;

6. Our liturgy assures that to err is human and to forgive is divine – this requires that Masters forgive their servants; parents their children; children their parents; pastors their congregants and vice versa. 

 7. We are reminded that where there is repentance and forgiveness, tension, strife, crises and wars would be minimised if not eliminated.

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1. Our liturgy calls us as a Post-Easter People to reflect on repentance as a necessary recipe for salvation.

2. The Post-Easter period challenges us to demonstrate the demands of the Easter Season in terms of living out the values of the season and propagating the gospel to the ends of the earth.

3. When we admit the truth, “God love comes to perfection in us.”

4. Personal repentance is an inner conviction that comes from an interior disposition that I have wronged my nieghbour or sinned against God.

5. The communal dimension of repentance demands that we seek reconciliation with other communities we have hurt or ask for God’s intervention as a community.

6. Sacramental repentance demands that we approach the Minister of God who has the divine mandate to reconcile us with our nieghbours, God and his Church. 

Conclusion

Beloved in Christ, the Post-Easter Mandate is that we are an alleluia-people who are charged with the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the ends of the earth and living out the Christian values. Within that charge lies the call to repentance. Without repentance, there would be no forgiveness. The Good News is that God has forgiven us off-front. This puts a mandate on us to forgive one another and also embrace the call to repentance. It is hoped that Christians would listen to the call of the gospel by putting personal, communal and sacramental forgiveness into practice. May God help us through Christ Our Lord. Amen!