Reflection on Today's Readings, 3rd Sunday of Easter, Year B, April 18th, 2021
Texts: Acts 3:13-15.17-19; Ps. 4:2.4.7.9; Luke 24:35-48
The apostles teach us that God offers us forgiveness of sins through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Whenever I read those passages that attribute forgiveness to resurrection, I often ask myself the question: how? What actually merits forgiveness of sins for us, is it His passion or resurrection?
It is clear in the scriptures that Jesus Christ was crucified because He declared that He was the Son of God (John 19:7), the Hope of Israel. The resurrection proves that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God (Rom. 1:1-3). Resurrection is a final and undeniable proof that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Saviour and the Hope of God's people. Resurrection is a proof that Jesus has power over death and life. No one has power over death and life, except God. Hence, resurrection provides an opportunity for the people of Israel to know that He is truly the Son of God and to believe in Him. Resurrection becomes the sign that the people ask for: "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?" (John 6:30). Jesus Christ had always told them that the resurrection would be the sign. When He cleansed the temple, it is said, "The Jews intervened and said, 'what sign can you show us that you should act like this? Jesus answered, 'Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up.' .... But He was speaking of the Temple that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he has said this, and they believed the scriptures and what he had said." (John 2:18-22). At another place, it is said, "Then some of the scribes and pharisees spoke up. 'Master', they said, 'we should like to see a sign from you.' He replied, 'It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah remained in the belly of the sea-monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights." Jonah is both the sign of resurrection and repentance. Resurrection is the final definition of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Resurrection reveals Jesus Christ as theHope of Israel and so becomes a clarion call to the people to repent from their animosity and hatred towards Him and to believe in Him as the Son of God and their Hope. When they repent and believe in Him, they will participate in the merit of His passion and death, which is the forgiveness of sins. Hence, St. Peter says, "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers, But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out.”
The resurrection of Jesus Christ calls us to faith in Him and by that faith we participate in the forgiveness of sins merited by His passion and death. That sheds light on how resurrection brings about the forgiveness of sins. However, resurrection does more than calling us to faith and repentance, but also proves to us that Christ lives for ever to intercede for us. Hence, St. John, in the second reading, says, "My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." Because He lives for ever, He continues to makes His atonement for sin effective and efficacious. This affirms the words in the letter to the Hebrews: "Every high priest stands at his duties every day, offering over and over again the same sacrifices which are quite incapable of taking away sins. He (Jesus), on the other hand, has offered one single sacrifice for sins, and then taken his seat at the right hand of God, where he is now waiting till his enemies are made his footstool" (10:11-14).
Jesus Christ lives forever both as God and man. In today's gospel reading, it is said, "And he said to them 'Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself, handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.' And when he had said this he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, 'Have you anything here to eat?' They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them." He lives forever as man with the marks of His passion in heaven and this again reaffirms the eternal merit of the one sacrifice He had made.
We thank God that Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead. If He had not risen from the dead, He would not have fulfilled the Scripture perfectly. In today's gospel, it is said, "Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.' Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, 'Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem'." If He had not risen, it would have been false that He is God; His passion and death would have been in vain, for that He is God gives meaning to His passion and death. Resurrection unlocks for us the mystery hidden from ages; God became man, suffered and died, and declared God by His resurrection. It was hidden from our predecessors in faith and so they killed Him. All was to fulfil the plan and purpose of God. They were not condemned for bringing to fulfilment the plan and purpose of God, but for not believing in Him after it was evident that they killed Him in ignorance. The resurrection, which they attempted to prevent, offers for them and for us all the forgiveness of sins, it opens the door of forgiveness of sins to the whole world.
The resurrection calls us to hold fervently the faith in Jesus Christ as God and man. Being God, He has power to forgive sins. Truly, only God can forgive sins and give the power to forgive sins, as the people claimed. They held it against Him when He forgave sins because they were acting in ignorance. Being God, His power to save is certain. Being God, He deserves our whole trust in Him. Being God, He deserves our obedience to His commandments. Hence, St. John says, "And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He who says 'I know him' but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected." Let us continue to be faithful to Him. We are witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
God our Father, we thank you revealing in our age, through resurrection, the mystery hidden in ages past; give us all it takes to bear witness to the resurrection. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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