The first reading is Peter’s discourse to the Jewish community after healing a crippled man. The Psalm praises God recognizing the gifts that He has bestowed on human beings. The Gospel is an account of Jesus’ appearance to the apostles.

My reflection on these passages seems to generate more questions than answers. Why did Peter choose chastisement in his attempt to change Jewish minds? Why does the Psalm response leave out the verse relating to the relative insignificance of human’s place in nature? Why does the resurrected Jesus appear the way that he does?

In the passage from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter first makes clear that the healing that had taken place was not through his own power. He goes on to describe the role of the Jewish community in Jesus’ death. If I was trying to change hearts, I would not have invoked guilt and accusations of ignorance (although guilt seems to be a deeply rooted part of both the Jewish and our own traditions). If I imagine myself as part of the crowd of onlookers, I would at first be amazed at this miraculous cure, but then I would become defensive at Peter’s comments. I am left with the feeling that he is looking for conflict rather than conversion. I should add that I sometimes have similar questions pertaining to Jesus’ interactions with the Jewish authorities. Perhaps it is the polarization which I sense in today’s society that draws me more towards patience, empathy and dialogue with respect to those with differing views, rather than explicitly confronting what I perceive as wrongs that need to be righted.

The Psalm response choses to leave out the verse that makes God’s care for His people all the more amazing: When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place— What is man that you are mindful of him, and a son of man that you care for him? Looking up at the night sky, we see the vastness of the universe. Today we have a greater understanding of the physical reality of these seemingly tiny sources of light, billions of sun-like bodies surrounded by their own planetary systems. I find my relative insignificance in an extensive cosmic reality personally humbling. I also find that such a context makes God’s care for us a truly astonishing gift.

The last chapter of Luke’s Gospel contains the descriptions of the events at the tomb and on the road to Emmaus, today’s passage, and finally Jesus’ Ascension. I personally find the accounts of the resurrection somewhat confusing. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus’ physical features are not recognized. When he appears to the apostles in Jerusalem he seems to be immediately recognized. The Gospel seems to make the point that Jesus is bodily there; He eats; He tells them to look at His hands and feet. While at the same encounter, He appears and disappears rather than using the door. One can attribute some of this to the author of the Gospel’s concern with making the important points rather giving a detailed factual account, but this still leaves me wondering in some sense what resurrection means.

My prayer today considers why my heart seems to be moved more by the events of Pentecost rather than the Easter season.

Dear Lord,
My faith seems less concerned about what happens after death. Nevertheless, I find myself pondering what resurrection meant for Jesus and what it means for human beings.
I see my faith growing out of my experience of You touching my life. Thank You for the gift of Your Spirit. Like the author of today’s Psalm, I experience joy and gratitude in Your care for one as insignificant as I am.