The
First Reading: Acts of the Apostles
2:14a, 36-41
Peter’s Sermon after Pentecost
continues. One must point out the
potential anti-semitism in this passage: “ this Jesus whom you crucified.” This has been taken to mean that the Jews
were solely responsible for Jesus’ death (this notion was present in last
week’s reading as well). Through history
this charge has led to anti-semitic tendencies among Christians, from which the
Church can only repent. Peter’s point,
however, is different. In his mind it is
God who acted in Jesus death and resurrection.
The people were just instruments of this action.
2:14a But Peter, standing with
the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, 36
“Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that
God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to
the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should
we do?” 38 Peter said to them,
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that
your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your
children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to
him.” 40 And he testified with many
other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt
generation.” 41 So those who
welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons
were added.
Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17
1
I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of
my
supplication, *
because
he has inclined his ear to me whenever
I
called upon him.
2
The cords of
death entangled me;
the grip of the grave took hold of me; *
I
came to grief and sorrow.
3
Then I called
upon the Name of the Lord: *
“O
Lord, I pray you, save my life.”
10
How shall I repay
the Lord *
for
all the good things he has done for me?
11
I will lift up
the cup of salvation *
and
call upon the Name of the Lord.
12
I will fulfill my
vows to the Lord *
in
the presence of all his people.
13
Precious in the
sight of the Lord *
is
the death of his servants.
14
O Lord, I am your servant; *
I
am your servant and the child of your handmaid;
you
have freed me from my bonds.
15
I will offer you
the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and
call upon the Name of the Lord.
16 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *
in
the presence of all his people,
17
In the courts of
the Lord’s house,
in the midst of you, O
Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
The
Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-23
Our
Eastertide readings from the first letter of Peter continue. Peter uses the
metaphor of “ransom” to describe the atonement (how God made salvation possible
through the death and resurrection of Jesus). He also uses the metaphor of
“exile” to describe the state of Christians in this world. He closes this
passage with the image of “new birth” and the commandment to love, both echoes
of Jesus from John’s Gospel.
1:17 If you invoke as Father the one
who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent
fear during the time of your exile. 18 You
know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors,
not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19
but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without
defect or blemish. 20 He was destined
before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for
your sake. 21 Through him you have
come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that
your faith and hope are set on God. 22 Now
that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you
have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. 23 You have been born anew, not of perishable
but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.
The
Holy Gospel: Luke 24:13-35
Our Gospel reading is
the well-known and much-loved story of Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on
the road to Emmaus. It is clearly a very important story for Luke and appears
only in his Gospel. It reflects the pattern of worship that emerged in the
early Church: Word and Sacrament. Jesus is revealed as the interpreter of
Scripture for Christians (this is a theme throughout Luke’s Gospel), and as the
one who is revealed in the breaking of the bread. There is also a detail which
allows the reader in any age to insert him or herself into the story: the unnamed disciples (the companion of
Cleopas).
24:13 Now on that same day two of
them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these
things that had happened. 15 While
they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing
him. 17 And he said to them, “What
are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still,
looking sad. 18 Then one of them,
whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem
who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied,
“The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word
before God and all the people, 20 and
how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and
crucified him. 21 But we had hoped
that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the
third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover,
some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning,
23 and when they did not find his
body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of
angels who said that he was alive. 24 Some
of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had
said; but they did not see him.” 25 Then
he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all
that the prophets have declared! 26 Was
it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter
into his glory?” 27 Then beginning
with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about
himself in all the scriptures. 28 As
they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he
were going on. 29 But they urged
him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day
is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took
bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31
Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he
vanished from their sight. 32 They
said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking
to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to
Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen
indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then
they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them
in the breaking of the bread.
The
Scripture quotations (except for the psalm) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ
in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.
All rights reserved. The Collect
of the Day and the Psalm translation are from The Book of Common Prayer. Commentaries
are copyright © 2017, Epiphany ESources, 67 E. Main St., Hornell, NY 14843, www.epiphanyesources.com. All
rights reserved. Permission to copy and edit for church services is given,
provided this attribution remains.
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