Thursday within
the Octave of Easter
(Acts 3:11-26; Luke 24:35-48)
During the Easter season the Church does not use the Old
Testament in its liturgies other than the Psalms. Evidently it wants to emphasize how Jesus’
resurrection makes everything new. But
this does not mean that the Old Testament is entirely silent. So inextricable is it to the Christian
message that the Old Testament is continually found in passages such as the
first reading today.
In his sermon after healing the lame man at the Portico
of Solomon St. Peter tells the people that Jesus was the prophet whom Moses
anticipated in the Book of Deuteronomy. This prophet would speak God’s definitive word
such that all who do not heed him will be cut off from God’s people.
The Jews to this day have never converted en masse to Christ. Does that mean that they have forsaken their
heritage as God’s chosen people? At Vatican
II the bishops taught that God, always faithful to his promise, will never
withdraw his favor for Israel. We pray that
the Jews will be faithful to the Covenant made to Moses and so help us to
understand Jesus better. He came to
redeem all humanity, even those who do not acknowledge him as their savior.
