Reflections on the Sunday readings
The gatekeeper opens it [the gate] for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. (Jn 10:3–4).
Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. (Lk 24:13–16)
[Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Jn 20:21-23
“Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’”
The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!” Mt 27:54
1st Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14 This is the culmination of the dry bones reading (Ezek 37:1-14). It recognizes that Israel’s plight in the Babylonian Captivity feels like the absence of God and therefore is a kind of death. Ezekiel is told to prophesy to the people that God will end that death. 2nd Reading: Romans 8:8-11
1st Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1b; 6-7; 10-13a This is the story of the anointing of David as the king chosen by God. Note that the Spirit rushed upon (leapt up in) him. This is a statement made of prophets. It speaks of God working within him. The guidance of God’s Spirit is very different from
1st Reading: Exodus 17:3-7 This is the story of water from the rock when the newly freed Israelites complained about the lack of water in the desert and wondered if they had not been better off in slavery in Egypt. It is one of two accounts of the water from the rock. (The other account
“…they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark.” Mt 24:38
They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. Lk 20:36
