Breaking the Word

4^th week in Easter Time, Friday – 5^th May 2023 – Acts 13,26-33; Gospel: Jn 14,1-6

Fulfillment in Resurrection

The first reading summarizes the paschal mysteries of Jesus’s suffering, death and resurrection. Paul shows how these events fulfill the Hebrew Scriptures and reveal the close relationship between Jesus and His Father. He quotes Ps 2,7 “You are My Son; this day I have begotten You.” This quote doesn’t refer specifically to Jesus’ baptism (Mt 3,17) or to the transfiguration (Mk 9,7). In a broader sense refers to Jesus’ whole ministry and mission as described in Jn 3,16. “Begotten” in Greek literally means “to give birth to something,” which could infer the work of the Holy Spirit in Mary. But the word “begotten” in Ps 2,7 and in Jn 3,16 refers more generally to the act of causing something to come into being. It refers to the resurrection of Jesus in His relationships of sonship. It is not God arranged for the Son to have a human body and human nature. But it refers to the relationship of the Son, who is co-eternal with the Father. Therefore, God started or begot the Son’s role as the heir of David, the Messiah of the Jews, and the Saviour of the World.

4^th week in Easter Time, Thursday – 4^th May 2023 – Acts 13,13-25; Gospel: Jn 13,16-20

God’s Plan Being Fulfilled

The first reading presents the account of Paul’s first missionary journey. When given an opportunity, Paul addresses a crowd of Jews and ‘God fearing” individuals with the great events of the Old Testament. This discourse is typical of Paul’s preaching to a Jewish assembly. Paul asserts that all of Israelite history has been leading up to the coming of Jesus. As he gives the summary of the history of salvation, Paul emphasizes that the Hebrew scriptures, as spoken through the patriarchs and prophets, focused on the time when God would save the people. God’s plan was to send Jesus, his Son with the mission and ministry of announcing salvation through his own death and resurrection. It was God’s plan to reach out to all people from this key moment. Looking back to the past from this salvific event, Paul highlights how God’s providence has been at work at various key points. At the same time, God was present at those times and led them to something higher.