3rd Sunday of Easter (B):
JESUS COUNTS ON US TO MAKE HIM KNOWN TO OTHERS AND BRING HIM SOULS.

OUTLINE

1. In Jesus’ name shall the conversion and forgiveness of sins will be preached.
2. As Christians, we have a mission to evangelize, to make Jesus known to others and bring them to Him.
3. The fact that one day we shall resurrect with Jesus is a source of great joy and hope.

 

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth; o sing to the glory of his name. o render him glorious praise, alleluia. (Entrance Antiphon).

1.      In Jesus’ name shall the conversion and forgiveness of sins will be preached.

It was written that the Messiah had to suffer, thus being a victim of propitiation for our sins and those of the whole world. But God raised him from the dead and in his name will be preached the conversion and forgiveness of sins to all peoples.

• In today’s Gospel (Lk 24:35–48), Jesus said to them: “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. You are witnesses of these things.
• And in today’s 1^st reading (Acts 3:13–15, 17–19): The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses. Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did; but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer. Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.” 

2.      As Christians, we have a mission to evangelize, to make Jesus known to others and bring them to Him.

This is the reason for our being Christians, members of the Church: we exist to evangelize, once converted from our sins.

3.      The fact that one day we shall resurrect with Jesus is a source of great joy and hope.

It is also the source of our joy and hope to participate one day in the joy of the resurrection.

• Receive, O Lord, we pray, these offerings of your exultant Church, and, as you have given her cause for such great gladness, so grant that the gifts we bring may bear fruit in perpetual happiness. Through Christ our Lord. (Prayer over the offerings)
• Look with kindness upon your people, O Lord, and grant, we pray, that those you were pleased to renew by eternal mysteries may attain in their flesh the incorruptible glory of the resurrection. Through Christ our Lord. (Prayer after Communion)

And since he rose again, Christ reveals himself to us through signs: the breaking of bread, the Eucharist; the sores of his hands and feet,  and through our poorest and most needy brothers.

May your people exult for ever, O God, in renewed youthfulness of spirit, so that rejoicing now in the restored glory of our adoption we may look forward in confident hope to the rejoicing of the day of resurrection. Through our Lord  (Collect prayer).

PHOTO FROM STAINEDGLASS WEBSITE