John 14:1-6

Acts 13:26-33

Psalm 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab

John 14:1-6

When Paul came to Antioch in Pisidia, he said in the synagogue:

 “My brothers, children of the family of Abraham,

and those others among you who are God-fearing,

to us this word of salvation has been sent.

The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him,

and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophets

that are read sabbath after sabbath.

For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence,

they asked Pilate to have him put to death,

and when they had accomplished all that was written about him,

they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb.

But God raised him from the dead,

and for many days he appeared to those

who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.

These are now his witnesses before the people.

We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you

that what God promised our fathers

he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up Jesus,

as it is written in the second psalm,

     You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.”

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, may your name be hallowed among the nations, may your heavenly kingdom be established throughout all the earth, and may your will be done so that all men and women may come to know and love you.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Paul’s Sermon in Pisidian Antioch: The First Reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, records one of Paul’s most important sermons. It is an example of how Paul demonstrated that Jesus is the Messiah. Paul recalls that some of his listeners are children of the family of Abraham. Others are “God-fearing” Gentiles. Paul makes the point that the true sons of Abraham are those who, through faith, accept Jesus, the son of David, as the Savior who will lead Israel and all the nations to salvation (see Acts 13:26). Paul then accuses the inhabitants and leaders of Jerusalem of having failed to recognize Jesus as their promised Savior and as the promised Son of David. By condemning Jesus to death and hanging him on the tree of the Cross, the people unknowingly fulfilled the oracles of the prophets. As prophesied by Isaiah, God used the sufferings and crucifixion of his Son and Servant, Jesus, to bring about his plan of salvation. 

2. Jesus’ Victory over the Curse of Death: The rejection of Jesus by the Jerusalem leaders does not detract from Jesus’ messianic status, but ironically confirms it, because such rejection is precisely what the Scriptures predicted (Acts 13:27; 2:23). “The prophets foretold the last days of the Deuteronomic covenant, which commenced when the Jerusalem leaders brought about Jesus’ Passion and death. By His death on a ‘tree’ (Acts 13:29), the son of Abraham and David has taken upon Himself the Deuteronomic curses (see Deut. 21:23; Galatians 3:13-16). By His Resurrection, He has demonstrated both His own victory over those curses and His power to free those who place their faith in Him (cf. Acts 13:30-31)” (Pimentel, Witnesses of the Messiah, 118).

3. Becoming Children of God: After narrating the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, Paul proclaims that what God promised to their fathers – to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – has been granted to them, the children of Abraham, through Jesus Christ. God fulfills his promises to Abraham and his promise to David by raising up Jesus. “Because the risen Jesus is an eternally living son of David whose reign will never end, he unconditionally fulfills the promise that David's throne will stand forever (2 Sam 7:13)” (Kurz, Acts of the Apostles, 215). Paul quotes from Psalm 2, which we sing today, and applies it to Jesus. Originally, the psalm referred to the new king in the line of David who, at his coronation, was declared God’s adopted son and given authority and dominion. “Now this royal psalm is fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah, risen and enthroned in heaven so as to share God's dominion over the whole world” (Kurz, Acts of the Apostles, 215). Through our Baptism, we share in Jesus’ death and resurrection, and also participate in his divine sonship.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are so good. You earnestly desired to save us by suffering and dying on the Cross for us. Help me to be thankful each day for what you suffered and how you poured out your love through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Living the Word of God: Can I spend some time in prayer reflecting on Jesus’ victory over the curse of death? Adam and Eve broke the original covenant of creation and triggered the curse of spiritual death through original sin. We have been freed from that curse by our redeemer, Jesus Christ. How have I celebrated this victory during the season of Easter?