Short message from Fr. Lawrence R. Brito

3rd Sunday of Easter

     In today's Gospel, the Lord presents the opportunity for his disciple to participate in the fulfillment of the Holy Scriptures,

The risen Lord says:

“It is written that the Messiah had to suffer and was to rise from the dead on the third day, and that in his name the need to return to God and the forgiveness of sins was to be preached to all nations, beginning with Jerusalem.

      In the first reading, Saint Peter is carrying out Christ's challenge to preach the good news to the people of the world.” Saint Peter begins his mission with these words to his people: “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over to Pilate, and whom you rejected in his presence.” …” Who is this that accuses his people of denying Jesus?

Remember who denied Jesus three times. His sin cannot be denied, but because he was guilty and was forgiven, he himself knows the mercy of God. He is the witness of God's great mercy.

    In the second reading, we hear from another apostle. Saint John, the beloved disciple says: “My little children: I write this to you so that you do not sin. But if someone sins, we have Jesus Christ, the righteous, as our intercessor before the Father. Because he offered himself as a victim of atonement for our sins..."

Saint John is not giving us a license to sin, he exhorts us to avoid sin, but if we sin we can find the mercy of Jesus. Saint John says more clearly: 'Whoever says: “I know him” but does not fulfill his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him"

What is the truth? The truth is that we are all sinners. That we must strive to keep the commandments. It is in admitting that we are sinners that we can find God's mercy. The sacrament of reconciliation is a gift to the Church of Jesus Christ himself.

The sacrament of reconciliation is a gift from Jesus Christ to his holy Church, as a way for us to receive forgiveness from him.

      In last week's gospel, Jesus appears to his disciples, and says to them: “Peace be with you.” As the Father has sent me, so have I sent you.” After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Those whose sins are forgiven will be forgiven; and those who are not forgiven will remain unforgiven.”

     At this very moment Jesus established the sacrament of penance. or as we know it, confession.

Humility is required to receive this sacrament, because you must admit that you have sinned. In this sacrament we encounter the love and very of God. What wonderful things the Lord has done for us. Hallelujah hallelujah.