Readings
April 27, 2013
April 18, 2013
4th Sunday of Easter - C
Commentary
The Good Shepherd Who Gives Life
Jesus speaks these words
recorded in John 10 while he is in the Temple for the Feast of Dedication.
This annual event celebrates
the rededication of the Temple after it was desecrated by the gentiles in 164
BC.
At the time, some of Jewish
political and religious leaders sided with the invading forces of Syria under
Antiochus IV for position and power. Their
following of Antiochus, who called himself “Epiphanes” (“the manifest god”)
caused the destruction of the Temple and the death of many devout Jews.
Eventually, under the
leadership of Mattathias and his son, Judas Maccabeus, the Jews defeated the
Syrians, reclaimed their nation, and rededicated the Temple. [1]
In that context of the
celebration of Dedication, Jesus speaks of himself as “the good shepherd”
(10:14).
Unlike the leaders who betrayed their nation and their people, the
Good Shepherd knows the sheep and gives them eternal life by giving up his own
life. Thus, “they shall never perish.”
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[1] Francis J. Moloney, SDB., The Gospel of John.
Sacra Pagina Series, Collegeville, MN. Liturgical Press, 1998; p. 313.
April 12, 2013
3rd Sunday of Easter - C
Commentary
Follow Me
Today, we hear the final command given by Jesus in John’s
Gospel, “Follow me.”
The command was given to Peter.
It was Peter who denied knowing Jesus three times. But he was also the one who professes his
love for Jesus three times.
If we go back further, in John’s account of the first
encounter between Jesus and Simon, Jesus gave no invitation to Simon to follow
him. On that occasion, it was Andrew,
Simon’s brother, who introduced him to Jesus.
And all we heard was Jesus giving Simon the new name “Cephas (which is
translated Peter)” (Chapter 1: 40-42).
Obviously, Peter then joined Jesus.
Along the way, he heard Jesus describing himself as the good
shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep (10: 11-17).
Moreover, the Good Shepherd, Jesus, lived out those words on
the cross, when he laid down his life for the sheep. [1]
Now, as Peter has been commissioned to care for the sheep, a
sinner as he is, he is invited to follow Jesus – to feed, to care for , and to
even lay down his life for the sheep.
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[1] Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of the Lord, Reflections on
the Gospel Readings Year C. Collegeville, MN. Liturgical Press, 1991;
p. 556.
April 6, 2013
2nd Sunday of Easter - C
Commentary
John 20: 19-31
The Missions to the Fearful Disciples
Why is specific “that” first day of the week mentioned?
It is important for the writer, and consequently, for the readers of this passage to recognize that earlier that day, Mary of Magdala found the tomb empty, the rock removed from it. After hearing her report of what she found, Peter and the other disciple went to the tomb and found the burial cloths rolled up separately. The other disciple “saw and believed.”
After that, Mary returned to the tomb and met the Risen Jesus. She recognized him when he called her by name. He then told her to “go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
In verse 18, “Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.”
And now, in the very next verse, verse 19, we find the fearful disciples who stay behind locked doors “for fear of the Jews”
That was probably the reason for the writer to include the specific time of the encounter of the Risen Christ and the disciples.
To these fearful disciples, Jesus came and gives them peace.
To these unbeliever disciples, who just can't get it, Jesus came and gives them assurance.
Moreover, Jesus commissons these fearful and unbelieving disciples to continue the mission he has received from the Father, As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
In the end, it’s not about us, whether we are strong or have enough faith or not. It is the Risen Christ who entrusts us, knowing who we are, with the mission the Father has given to him.
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