Easter Sunday Readings for April 4, 2010: Lectionary # 43

Scripture: Lectionary #43: Acts 10:24a, 37-43. Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17,22-23.
Colossians 3:1-4 or I Corinthians 5:6b-8. Luke 24:1-12:

Luke, our evangelist for the Gospel this morning, is author of the Acts of
the Apostles. He has handed on to us through his literary and creative
theological skills the speeches of Peter, Paul,and Stephen. Today we have
one of Peter's speeches which focuses on the story of Jesus of Nazareth and
on his suffering, death, and resurrection which brings about our
forgiveness of our sins and our salvation. He may have created these
speeches from the oral traditions he received and recalled (see Luke
1:1-4). His skill in Greek enabled him to take us quickly throught he
early beginnings of Jesus ministry up to the last days of his life. We
sense a continuity with what we have celebrated in the Triduum. Moreover,
Peter appears also in his first narratve about the resurrection which is
our Gospel for this Easter Sunday.

Psalm 118 is a celebration of Israel's victory over its adversaries and we
reread it in the light of Jesus' victory over death. The Psalm is
connected with the Temple and one of the three major feasts, namely, the
feast of Tabernacles which helps us to recll the Transfiguration of Jesus
and Peter's asking Jesus that they, the three apostles build three tents or
tabernacles to remain there on the mount with Jesus, Moses and Elijah. We
remember that Luke always writes in the light of the full story of
Jesus--especially in the light of the resurrection. As Christians who read
and sing this Psalm we see a foreshadowing of Jesus' last days. There are
also verses that we repeat during this Easter season: "This is the day the
Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad." Verses 14-18 are appropriate
for our Easter joy: "The Lord is my strength and my song; and he has become
my salvation." Then verse 22 is one of the most cited of texts from the
Psalms: "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."
Jesus is seen as this cornerstone which symbolizes his constructing the
Kingdom of God here on earth.

I Corinthians states in sacrificial language that Jesus is the Paschal Lamb
who has been sacrificed. The alternate reading from Colossians 3:1-4 tells
us that through our Baptism our life is hidden and revealed in Christ.

Our Gospel happens to be the same one that was used at the Easter Vigil for
we are in the year of Luke. Luke 24: 1-12 is the first resurrection
narrative that Luke gives us. We see in the faithful women who come to the
tomb friends of Jesus who also become witnesses. Mary Magdalene in the
tradition is called the apostle to the apostles; the others join in that
mission, too. Finally, Peter appears and runs to the tomb to find only the
cloths or linens lying there. For him it is the beginning of the
resurrection faith he needs. Yes, Christ is risen! Alleluia. Amen.