We must share the Risen Christ with all people
Reflections on the readings for the Third Sunday of Easter (April 15, 2018): ACTS 3:13-15,17-19, PS 4:2,4,7-8,9, 1JN 2:1-5, LK 24:35-48
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
In the Gospel for today, we see and hear Jesus again confirm for His disciples that He had risen from the dead.
He stood in their midst, body and soul and even ate with them, so that they would embrace the truth of His Resurrection. Our Lord reminded them that He had fulfilled everything the Hebrew Scriptures expected from the Messiah. Then He went on to speak of their own mission to come. “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47).
Jesus loved His followers and wanted them to be prepared for their task of spreading the Good News. Their listeners would have to recognize and turn away from their sins. Then they would experience God’s mercy. Every person who believes and follows Christ will know the blessing of forgiveness and the gift of everlasting salvation. Everything Jesus had taught the Apostles and other disciples during His time with them had come to fruition. It was up to them – and all those who followed in their footsteps in succeeding generations – to preach Christ Crucified and Risen to all people.
