Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter

“Eucharist in Fruit Wreath”
by Jan Davidsz. De Heem, 1648

Readings for Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary:[3]
 
Reading 1: Acts 7:51—8:1a
 
Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes:
"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,
you always oppose the Holy Spirit;
you are just like your ancestors.
Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute?
They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one,
whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.
You received the law as transmitted by angels,
but you did not observe it."
 
When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him.
But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and Stephen said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened
and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
But they cried out in a loud voice,
covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out,
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice,
"Lord, do not hold this sin against them";
and when he said this, he fell asleep.
 
Now Saul was consenting to his execution.
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Commentary on Acts 7:51—8:1a
 
St. Stephen is martyred for proclaiming Jesus Christ as God, which is considered blasphemy by the Sanhedrin. He is the first Christian martyr, stoned outside of Jerusalem with the consent of one of the representatives of the Sanhedrin (“The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul”) whom we know is later named St. Paul.
 
We note how St. Luke draws a parallel between the martyrdom of Stephen and the death of Jesus.  Both asked the Father to forgive their persecutors in their last moments (see Luke 23:34), and both called out to God to receive their spirit (see Luke 23:46).
 
CCC: Acts 7:52 597, 601; Acts 7:53 332; Acts 7:56 659; Acts 7:60 2635
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab
 
R. (6a) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
My trust is in the LORD;
I will rejoice and be glad of your mercy.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plottings of men.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab
 
Psalm 31 is an individual lament. The psalmist calls out to the Lord with confidence in God's salvation, in distress, as he is persecuted for being faithful: “Into your hands I commend my spirit” and “You hide them in the shelter of your presence from the plottings of men.”
 
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Gospel: John 6:30-35
 
The crowd said to Jesus:
"What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?
What can you do?
Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:
 
He gave them bread from heaven to eat."
 
So Jesus said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven;
my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world."
 
So they said to Jesus,
"Sir, give us this bread always."
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst."
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Commentary on Jn 6:30-35
 
Jesus continues the “Bread of Life” discourse. The people misunderstand and think Jesus is asking for faith in order to perform a sign (see also Mark 8:11, Matthew 16:1, and Luke 11:16). The Jews, in dialogue with Jesus, refer to the favor shown by God, as in the desert following the exodus, God showered manna upon the people. They quote Nehemiah 9:15, again seeking physical bread, when Jesus is offering the spiritual. In this selection St. John provides the most solemn of statements by Jesus, which are unambiguous statements about his real presence in the Eucharist: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” In this offer, Jesus provides sustenance for the spirit, while physical bread supports only the mortal body.
 
CCC: Jn 6 1338; Jn 6:26-58 2835; Jn 6:32 1094; Jn 6:33 423
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Reflection:
 
Deep into the Easter season, we are reminded of the Lord’s resurrection by the martyrdom of St. Stephen. We are also provided with one of the most moving passages in St. John’s Gospel, as the Lord tells us that we are called to be a “Eucharistic People.”  When we hear that call, as we must when we accept his body and blood, we must also ask ourselves what it means to be a people whose lives are bound up in God’s glorified body.
 
The Bread of Life is Jesus!  That is exactly what he says: “I am the bread of life.”  Acceptance of that offer has both an effect on those who accept it in faith, and an obligation based upon the gift given.
 
The grace we receive can be likened to a transfusion of blood to one who is in need. A transfusion to a patient in surgery, or to one injured in an accident, saves that person’s life.  There is no substitute for blood which carries life, air, and nourishment to each cell of the body.  Blood also carries away those things which would poison the body if they were allowed to remain.
 
In the same way the Eucharist brings life to each of us who accept it.  Not necessarily to the physical body, except as a consequence of faith which has the power to heal the body. No, the life most clearly provided is life of the soul, a joining to the supernatural body of the risen Christ, which is like physical blood that brings nourishment, and breathes life into us and washes away the poison of sin.
 
How much in awe we are of the sacrifice that placed this gift at our disposal?  As we celebrate this Easter of our joy, let us thank God without ceasing for the gift of this bread from heaven which brings us life in the next world and hope in this one.
 
Pax
 
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Maureen Galloway.

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[1] The icon is “Eucharist in Fruit Wreath” by Jan Davidsz. De Heem, 1648.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.