Flesh and Bones

Greetings on this the Third Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; PS 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9; 1 Jn 2:1-5a; Lk 24:35-48

Note: I will be preaching the 4:00 PM today and the 11:00 AM tomorrow. So you are getting one of two homilies. The poor priest. Listening twice in one weekend must be painful! I usually can do a passable job once and rarely do a good job twice. I just don’t have the guns.

Confession Repentance

In the first reading Peter is being kind with his audience.

He describes the problem succinctly.

You (we) conspired to put to death the Holy and Righteous One. Yet, God knowing our hearts, planned for the restoration of humanity by the act of self-giving Son by way of the very depravity of our human instincts.

Nevertheless, Peter urges them (us) Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.

God’s folly is greater than our craftiness.

Second Reading

OK, stop kidding yourself. We sin. That is, we set upon an inferior path often.

We are to strive to keep his commandments. This way of perfection is our best path.

Gospel

How deep is the restoration?

To the very beginning.

Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones
as you can see I have.”
And as he said this,
he showed them his hands and his feet.

From Genesis:

The man gave names to all the tame animals, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be a helper suited to the man. So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman. When he brought her to the man the man said:

“This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man this one has been taken.”

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body. The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame.

Jesus restored us to the very core of our being. Body, soul, flesh and bone.

Jesus restored our relational capacity.

Touch me, flesh and bone, with your flesh and bone.

Be ashamed no longer.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry