Acts 3:11-26
11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomons, astounded.
12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?13 The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15 and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.
19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
21 whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.
22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days.
25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Luke 24:35-48
35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. 36 As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,
46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
MEDITATION
THE FIRST READING: The community is in awe of the two Apostles in regards to the miracle that they witnessed. Peter responds to the sceptics by indicating that their work of grace and deliverance flows from Christ who has been glorified-raised on high-when He suffered and died caused by those who sold Him to the enemy. Peter bemoans the fact that the people’s intransigence caused them to release Barabbas, a criminal in exchange for Christ whom Pilate wished to set free!
When Peter calls the people to “repent,” he asserts that the people should have a filial fear of God whereby we instinctively curb our sinful acts which suggests an amendment of our ways towards saintliness! If ‘repentance’ is merely a word we glibly utter to exalt ourselves or make a point, then it is a vainfull repetitious notion that lacks the fruit of God’s mercy and grace. Peter asserts that our refusal to submit to Christ by turning away from our “wickedness” shall shipwreck our salvation, because “nothing unclean” (Rev 21:27) shall inherit God’s heavenly kingdom.
St LUKE’S GOSPEL describes the story of the two men from Emmaus who testified how Christ entered into their midst and how their eyes were opened in Christ’s act of “breaking the bread!” At this juncture Jesus appeared in the midst of the testimony of the two men and poured His Spirit of peace (v36) upon them; words that a bishop ‘episcopos’ or overseer, extend in his first greeting to the community at the start of Holy Mass. A presiding priest on the other hand invokes God’s peace with the words:”Peace be to you,” to which we reply and reciprocate: “And with your spirit.”
The risen Christ is troubled by the questions of disbelief that predominated the discussions that came from those who listened to the testimony of the men from Emmaus such that He asked for something to eat to provide indisputable evidence that He can partake in earthly food with His glorified body! Christ sought to answer those who are sceptical about His presence by certifying the transformation that takes place when the elements of bread and wine turns into His sacred flesh and blood that we are invited to partake in and consume for the repentance and forgiveness of our sins. Finally, when Christ says that “repentance and forgiveness should be preached” He referred to the Celebration of the Holy Eucharistic Sacrifice of the Mass-the Passover Sacrifice- which is the supreme mode of worship that flows from the seven sacraments that our Lord instituted.
LET US PRAY: Psalms 8:2,5-9
2 by the mouth of babes and infants, thou hast founded a bulwark because of thy foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 5 Yet thou hast made him little less than God, and dost crown him with glory and honor.
6 Thou hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the sea.
9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth!
Catholic Witness Apostolate catholicwitnessct@gmail.com Henry R SYLVESTER
Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days of saints around the world.
Morning Coffee Meditations. 
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