028 3rd Sunday of Easter

Readings

Cycle B 3rd Sunday of Easter

Second Reading: 1 John 2: 1-5

First Reading: Acts 3: 13-15, 17-19

Gospel: Luke 24: 35-48

Psalm: Psalm 4: 2, 4, 7-9

Homily Theme

Choice

In the first reading this week, Peter reminds the people they chose a murderer and a thief when Pilate offered them the choice to free Jesus. They were influenced and swayed by the clamor of the crowd to make the wrong choice. How could they choose one as evil as Barabbas instead of Jesus? Peter reminds them that they sinned out of ignorance. So do most of us when we make wrong choices. Peter adds, they should repent. Hopefully your church celebrated Mercy Sunday last week, with an opportunity for you to make your confession, in order for Jesus to pour out His Merciful love on all of you who needed the opportunity to repent: Jesus came to save all so choose His mercy.

Sin is choosing to say “No” to God. In the second reading today, John pleads with us to avoid sin but if we do sin, and we all do, we have an advocate with the Father: it is Jesus who died for all who have ever sinned. He died for us so that we can be saved. John warns us, if we claim to know Him and continue to choose to disobey the Commandments we are liars and the truth is not in us. Either we are followers of Jesus or the followers of the crowd. Make sure you choose now to follow Jesus and His Church.

There are many Catholics who have been swayed by the clamor of the Pro-choice movement. There is also the clamor of the Political crowd with their false choices. Many of our Catholic politicians vote for abortion rights choosing to disregard the teachings of the Church. Do you vote for Pro-choice candidates? When we choose to follow them we also cry out Crucify Him as we reject the infallible guidance of the Church. Remember, the Church teaches, Life begins at conception and ends only with natural death. Don’t choose death at any stage. God is the Author of Life. Therefore, the Church can not obey the recent Health Insurance Mandate.

We can be very objective when judging others but often ignorant when it comes to our own bad choices. Who among us can say that I have never sinned? None of us! We have all been in need of God’s forgiveness and mercy. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the apostles that repentance and forgiveness of sins must be preached in His Name to all. Each of the Apostles, except John, chose to desert Jesus at the time of His crucifixion. Peter also chose to deny Him three times. The others all made bad choices when they decided not to be there for Him. Yes we are all in need of God’s merciful forgiveness so make sure that we choose to receive it today. Make an act of contrition for all the bad choices of the past and resolve to make good choices in the future. Our eternal Salvation depends on it.

Choose Jesus not Barabbas.