April 18: Scripture Study and Meditations On This Sunday's Readings At Mass

[Fidelis]

Why did Jesus’ followers have such a hard time recognizing him after the Resurrection?

TIA

I would say it was because of two reasons.

The first is because, after his resurrection, Jesus was in a risen glorified state. He was the same Jesus, but somehow different. At the Transfiguration, you remember. Jesus gave three of his disciples a glimpse of the glory he always had, but was kept veiled by his human flesh.

One place that calls this to mind for me was the scene in the beginning of the Book of Revelation. John sees a vision of a person who, as described, doesn’t sound like a description of Jesus–but it is:

Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest. The hair of his head was as white as white wool or as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame. His feet were like polished brass refined in a furnace,and his voice was like the sound of rushing water. In his right hand he held seven stars. A sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth, and his face shone like the sun at its brightest. When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead. He touched me with his right hand and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld. (Revelation 12-18)

The second reason is because, for his own reasons which we may speculate on, Jesus kept their eyes from recognizing who he was, just like he did on the road to Emmaus:

Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. (Luke 24:13-16)

 

[2livfree]

Verses 18-19 in the Gospel today were pointed out by our priest. He noted that this is exactly what is happening to our Pope.

 

[Fidelis]

Did anyone have an instinct to say “Amen” in the second reading after:
“To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor, glory and might,
forever and ever.”

Oh, I did! It always reminds me of a song we used to sing at Mass:

Salvation Belongs To Our God

I thought the first reading was very powerful. I also liked how the reader at the Saturday evening Mass at my parish read it. She put a lot of emotion into it.

I always love the bold preaching of the Apostles in the first few chapters of Acts. No wonder they were able to convert 5000 people with a five minute sermon!

 

[Fidelis]

A meditation on the Gospel Reading by Don Schwager:

Meditation: Why didn’t the apostles immediately recognize the Lord when he greeted them at the Sea of Tiberias? John gives us a clue. He states that Peter decided to return to his home district of Galilee, very likely so he could resume his fishing career. Peter was discouraged and didn’t know what to do after the tragedy of Jesus’ death! He went back to his previous career out of despair and uncertainty. The other apostles followed him back to Galilee. When was the last time Peter was commanded to let down his net after a futile night of fishing? It was at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee when the Lord dramatically approached Peter in his fishing boat after a futile night of fishing and commanded him to lower his nets (see Luke 5:4-11). After the miraculous catch, Jesus told Peter that he would be ‘catching people” for the kingdom of God. Now Jesus repeats the same miracle. John, the beloved disciple, is the first to recognize the Lord. Peter impulsively leaps from the boat and runs to the Lord. Do you run to the Lord when you meet setbacks, disappointments, or trials? The Lord is ever ready to renew us in faith and to give us fresh hope in his promises.
Skeptics who disbelieve the resurrection say the disciples only saw a vision of Jesus. The gospels, however, give us a vivid picture of the reality of the resurrection. Jesus went out of his way to offer his disciples various proofs of his resurrection – that he is real and true flesh, not just a spirit or ghost. In his third appearance to the apostles, after Jesus performed the miraculous catch of fish, he prepared a breakfast and ate with them. Peter’s prompt recognition of the Master and exclamation, It is the Lord! stands in sharp contrast to his previous denial of his Master during the night of arrest. The Lord Jesus reveals himself to each of us as we open our hearts to receive his word. Do you recognize the Lord’s presence in your life and do you receive his word with faith?

Why did Jesus question Peter’s love and fidelity three times in front of the other apostles? It must have caused Peter pain and sorrow since he had publicly denied Jesus three times. Now Peter, full of remorse and humility, unequivocally stated that he loved his master and was willing to serve him whatever it might cost. When Jesus asks him “do you love me more than these?” he may have pointed to the boats, nets and catch of fish. He may have challenged Peter to abandon his work for the task of shepherding God’s people. Jesus also may have pointed to the other disciples and to Peter’s previous boast: “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away” (Matthew 26:33). Peter now makes no boast or comparison but humbly responds: “You know I love you”.

The Lord calls us, even in our weakness and sin, to love him above all else. Augustine in his Confessions wrote: "Late have I loved you, O Beauty so ancient and so new. Late have I loved you! …You shone your Self upon me to drive away my blindness. You breathed your fragrance upon me… and in astonishment I drew my breath…now I pant for you! I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst for you. You touched me! – and I burn to live within your peace. " (Confessions 10:27) Nothing but our sinful pride and wilfulness can keep us from the love of God. It is a free gift unmerited and beyond payment. We can never outmatch God in love. He loved us first and our love for him is a response to his exceeding graciousness and mercy. Do you allow God’s love to change and transform your heart?

*“Lord Jesus, inflame my heart with your love and remove everything that is unloving, unkind, ungrateful, unholy and not in accord with your will.” *

 

[Fidelis]

And another by Dr. Scott Hahn:

April 25, 2010 - 4th Sunday in Easter: Shepherd and the Lamb

Israel’s mission - to be God’s instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth (see Isaiah 49:6) - is fulfilled in the Church.

By the “Word of God” that Paul and Barnabas preach in today’s First Reading, a new covenant people is being born, a people who glorify the God of Israel as the Father of them all.

The Church for all generations remains faithful to the grace of God given to the Apostles, continues their saving work.

Through the Church, the peoples of every land hear the Shepherd’s voice, and follow Him (see Luke 10:16).
The Good Shepherd of today’s Gospel is the enthroned Lamb of today’s Second Reading. 
In laying down His life for His flock, the Lamb brought to pass a new Passover (see 1 Corinthians 5:7), by His blood freeing “every nation, race, people and tongue” from bondage to sin and death.

The Church is the “great multitude” John sees in his vision today. God swore to Abraham his descendants would be too numerous to count. And in the Church, as John sees, this promise is fulfilled (compare Revelation 7:9; Genesis 15:5).

The Lamb rules from the throne of God, sheltering His flock, feeding their hunger with His own Body and Blood, leading them to “springs of life-giving waters” that well up to eternal life (see John 4:14).
The Lamb is the eternal Shepherd-King, the son of David foretold by the prophets. His Church is the Kingdom of all Israel that the prophets said would be restored in an everlasting covenant (see Ezekiel 34:23-31; 37:23-28).

It is not a kingdom any tribe or nation can jealously claim as theirs alone. The Shepherd’s Word to Israel is addressed now to all lands, calling all to worship and bless His name in the heavenly Temple.

This is the delight of the Gentiles - that we can sing the song that once only Israel could sing, today’s joyful Psalm: “He made us, His we are - His people, the flock He tends.”