Getting Ready to Pray                     

We pray with the Easter graces of wanting to belong. The risen Jesus presented himself after his resurrection as a close friend going around to bring together his “old gang” and begin to continue. The “old gang” became the early church and we gather together as that same church to do the same things, beginning to continue his life within and around us.

We pray as well with our communal trust that our present Holy Shepherd will continue to have the courage of the First Shepherd whom we hear boldly proclaiming his Gospel of recovery. We pray with and for our desires to follow Jesus whether we are going inside to experience his comfort or outside to share it. We can pray also with the Easter joy of being believers and chosen and called to not keep it to ourselves.

Some Thoughts                     

We hear again from the Acts of the Apostles. We are hearing some enthusiastic homilies (First Reading).

Peter makes a direct appeal to the Jewish longing for the messiah. He opens with a statement more than an accusation. Jesus, whom they had crucified, God had raised to be “Lord and Christ.” Not in anger, but with desire, the Jews who had been listening ask Peter what they should do.

This sets up the basic proclamation for the preaching of the early Apostles and the first three Gospels. All who desire salvation must repent and be baptized. Peter then affirms that the promise, the messiah, had been made to them and it was not too late. Peter’s message, directed towards his Jewish listeners, convinced three thousand that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was to be their covenanting Lord.

The Second Reading continues the encouragement to the early church’s converts. The author is paraphrasing verses from the Suffering Servant Song from chapter fifty-three of Isaiah. Suffering was at the heart of Jesus’ salvific mission and those who are baptized into the Christ will live a participation in his sufferings. Baptism is not an escape from this world’s resistance, but an immersion into Christ’s mission of this world’s recovery.

The reading of today’s Gospel pictures Jesus continuing his confrontation of the Pharisees. In the various verses ending the preceding chapter, which must be read to more fully understand today’s Gospel. Jesus had stuck it in the eyes of these same Jewish leaders, telling them that indeed, they were blind. The man who was blind had recognized Jesus as the Christ, but those who could see visually, were blinded by their non-recognition. It parallels then the setting of our First Reading.

Sharing, encouraging life and recovery are the words we have heard, together with the gestures which will eventually bring about God’s one and healed flock.

The Good Shepherd is risen!
He who laid down his life for his sheep,
who died for his flock, he is risen, Alleluia!