Today is Friday in the Octave of Easter. The readings naturally focus on the risen Jesus. A reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents Jesus as the cornerstone of God’s Temple. The psalm proclaims the same. The Gospel lesson presents one of Jesus’ many appearances after his resurrection. All three texts are aglow with the light of God shining in the face of the risen Savior.
In the first reading Peter and John cure a man through the power of the risen Christ. This gets them in trouble with the Jerusalem temple leaders, especially the Sadducees. The Sadducees were an interesting lot. They only accepted the first five books of the Old Testament. They rejected the prophets and the writings. They had some unique views. For example, they did not believe in angels or spirits and they rejected the idea of a bodily resurrection. You see them infrequently during the ministry of Jesus so why are they out to get Peter and John? They do not seem to care that a lame man has been cured. They do not even appear to be that exercised about people believing in Jesus. What irritated them was that the proclamation that Jesus was raised from the dead might encourage people to believe in the resurrection of the dead. They ask the disciples by what power or name they cured the lame man. Peter’s response had to chafe. The man was healed in the name of the very one you rejected. You crucified him; God raised him. You rejected him; God made him the cornerstone of his Temple. There is salvation in no other name.
Psalm 118 focuses on the words Peter used about Jesus as the cornerstone. It envisions a group of pilgrims heading toward the Temple in Jerusalem. As the pilgrims approach the Temple, there is a back and forth between them and the Temple singers.
Singers: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
Pilgrims: For his mercy endures forever.
Singers: The stone which the builders rejected.
Pilgrims: Has become the cornerstone.
Singers: This is the day the LORD has made.
Pilgrims: Let us be glad and rejoice in it.
Singers: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD; we bless you from the house of the LORD.
Pilgrims: The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
The Gospel lesson is a simple story about Jesus appearing to his disciples after his death and resurrection. The disciples revert back to their fishing days but are unsuccessful. The mysterious figure on the shore suggests they try the other side of the boat. After a huge catch of fish, everyone must have remembered how this happened before and concluded that the man on the beach was Jesus. Peter cannot wait for the boat to drag that load of fish to shore so he jumped in the water and swam the hundred yards to get to Jesus. Peter denied Jesus but he was no wimp. He even dragged the bulging net onto the shore by himself. What is Jesus doing? Cooking breakfast. When the disciples arrive he served them some of his bread and fish. Yes, fish is a good choice even after Lent!
Today’s readings are quite simple, yet profound. Death has been conquered. The Lord still desires fellowship with his disciples. The power of his resurrection dwells in those who call upon his name. In fact, there is no other power or name under heaven by which we are saved. The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!
George Butterfield
I served as the Legal Reference Librarian at the Creighton University Law School Library from August, 2007, until August of 2017. I also taught Legal Research to first year law students and Advanced Legal Research to second and third year law students. In August of 2017 I took the position of Director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, and served in that capacity until Covid hit and the church staff was cut in half. Recently I took a position with the St. Gerald Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and my wife and I moved back to the Omaha suburb of Papillion.
My wife, Deb, and I have been married since 1970. She grew up in Oklahoma City and I migrated south from southwestern Pennsylvania. God has blessed us with three children, four living grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. I spent the first thirty years of our marriage as a minister so our family moved a lot. We have lived in several states, including Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and California.
I enjoy walking, reading, listening to audio books, playing with my Pekingnese, Max, my Maltese-Schnauzer, Blaise, and seeing my grandkids grow up. I am a Catholic deacon, having been ordained by Archbishop George Lucas on May 5, 2012.
There is nothing to compare with reflecting on scripture. I feel privileged to participate in these daily reflections. Although we don’t know whether or not St. Francis ever said it, one idea associated with him is that we preach the gospel always and, when necessary, use words. May these reflections be gospel words, good news, of our gracious Lord Jesus Christ.
