General. This Sunday recalls the mystery of redemption when the Son of God belittled himself and he underwent death on the Cross, a scandal for pious Jews and a folly for intellectual Greeks. For this foolishness, the Father has raised him on high and made him a victorious king on all creation, the same way as God has made us victorious when with the help of His Son we override sin and He breathes into us His eternal life.

Acts of the Apostles. Christ’s disciples had some difficulty finding their feet after Christ’s ascension to the Father. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus, they had to continue with prayer and preaching the Word, while a social aspect was developing in aiding the needy. Words and deeds, as it were. Christians had to be seen not only as believing, prayerful people but they had to accompany their beliefs with visible actions showing that they practised what they preached.

First Epistle of St Peter. Reference is again made to the corner-stone on which the Church is built. This stone is Jesus himself who was rejected by the Jews but accepted by believers in a merciful God who had real faith in a loving Father and in Christ’s teachings. Inasmuch as Jesus was a precious Son for the Father, so should those who believe in him be considered as valuable elements in the new structure of a spiritual temple and a holy priesthood offering spiritual gifts to God.

St John. Jesus attributes his paternity to God and gives us a clear image of the Father acting through him on earth. The Father’s love, charity and mercy were all shown in Jesus’ doings with humanity, so that the Jews’ idea of an invisible, awesome God on high was transformed into that of a loving, cherishing Son who perfectly performs the role of the Emanu-El, God is with us. Jesus describes himself as the Way, Truth and Life which are attributes normally made to the Father but which now assume a special significance having seen the Father on earth in the person of the Son who has, on his part, promised us their Holy Spirit in continuity within the Church of this eternal love.

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