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After the resurrection

Second Sunday of Easter (A), Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47 Lectionary 043

During the Sundays after Easter, our first readings come from The Acts of the Apostles, the sequel to the Gospel according to Luke. This is the only time in the church’s year when we do not have an Old Testament reading on Sunday.

These selections from Acts are a kind of extension of the survey of salvation history in the Old Testament that we read during Lent. During Lent, we heard about God’s original plan for salvation, how He worked through Abraham and Moses and others, how He brought His people to the promised land, how He promised them protection and fulfillment in times to come.

Then we have the pivotal event of Easter, when Old Testament salvation history reaches its completion, and a new history of a new people begins. "What happened then?" That’s the question that Acts answers.

The selections from Acts form a series on their own, distinct from the second readings and Gospel readings. They are not strictly chronological. They do not always give us events in the order in which they happened or are presented in Acts, nor do they cover the whole of Acts. In fact, they are all from the first half.

This series of readings seems to have been put together to provide the faithful of today with an idea of what went on in the early church, how things began to unfold after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. Each Sunday of the three-year cycle has its particular theme. On the second Sundays of Easter of years A, B and C, we get a little overview, a summary of the state of affairs in the Jerusalem church. On the third and fourth Sundays, we have sermons by the apostles or other spokesmen for the church. (About one-third of Acts consists of speeches or sermons.) For the fifth Sundays, the theme is Christians’ call to service and, for the sixth, it is the growth of the church.

This second Sunday of Easter in Year A offers us one of the summary passages. It acts as a wrap-up of Luke’s Pentecost narrative. This passage describes the atmosphere in the church after the Spirit had come and Peter had delivered the first public Christian evangelization.

Luke lists four central characteristics of the early Christian believers in the first verse of our reading, and expands upon them in the verses that follow.

First of all, they listened attentively to the teaching of the apostles. The apostles had known Jesus, and hearing what the apostles had to say about Jesus brought the early believers into touch with Him. Like Jesus, the apostles did "many wonders and signs" that served to carry forward the mission of Jesus.

Secondly, they devoted themselves to the common life. They spent time together and took joy in their community. Luke tells us that they had all things in common and helped community members out as needs arose. This could mean that everybody gave over to the community everything that he or she possessed and depended fully on the community for sustenance. It is more likely, however, that people maintained ownership of resources, but made them available to care for particular needs.

They were also devoted to "the breaking of the bread." Scholars wonder whether this is a deliberate and clear reference to the Eucharist, but it certainly refers to something more than an ordinary meal. It was a gathering that was characterized by "exultation and sincerity of heart," attitudes appropriate for dining with the Lord.

Finally, there was prayer. These early Christians met for prayer every day in the temple. There was as yet no separation between Jews and Christians, and the Christians seemed simply to have united themselves with the daily public prayers of the temple.

"And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved." This seems to be an allusion to baptism, the fundamental encounter with Christ that is not otherwise mentioned in this passage.

Apostolic leadership, care for one another, sharing in the supper of the Lord, praying: these were the elements that characterized the church at its earliest times. It was a time of joy and generosity and glad contact with the Lord. It was a time of fervor.

That primitive Christian community is the same church of which we are members. Over the centuries we have taken on lots of extra baggage. We express our contact with the Lord in somewhat different ways. But we are still dependent on the apostles, still reaching out to one another, still "breaking the bread," still a people of prayer — and still joyful and still eager to praise the Lord.

For reflection and discussion

How do I express my participation in the life of the church?

Where do we express care for one another in our parish?



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	*Overtures* Reflection on the first readings of the Sunday liturgy By Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk After the resurrection Second Sunday of Easter (A), Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47 Lectionary 043 During the Sundays after Easter, our first readings come from The Acts of the Apostles, the sequel to the Gospel according to Luke. This is the only time in the church’s year when we do not have an Old Testament reading on Sunday. These selections from Acts are a kind of extension of the survey of salvation history in the Old Testament that we read during Lent. During Lent, we heard about God’s original plan for salvation, how He worked through Abraham and Moses and others, how He brought His people to the promised land, how He promised them protection and fulfillment in times to come. Then we have the pivotal event of Easter, when Old Testament salvation history reaches its completion, and a new history of a new people begins. "What happened then?" That’s the question that Acts answers. The selections from Acts form a series on their own, distinct from the second readings and Gospel readings. They are not strictly chronological. They do not always give us events in the order in which they happened or are presented in Acts, nor do they cover the whole of Acts. In fact, they are all from the first half. This series of readings seems to have been put together to provide the faithful of today with an idea of what went on in the early church, how things began to unfold after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. Each Sunday of the three-year cycle has its particular theme. On the second Sundays of Easter of years A, B and C, we get a little overview, a summary of the state of affairs in the Jerusalem church. On the third and fourth Sundays, we have sermons by the apostles or other spokesmen for the church. (About one-third of Acts consists of speeches or sermons.) For the fifth Sundays, the theme is Christians’ call to service and, for the sixth, it is the growth of the church. This second Sunday of Easter in Year A offers us one of the summary passages. It acts as a wrap-up of Luke’s Pentecost narrative. This passage describes the atmosphere in the church after the Spirit had come and Peter had delivered the first public Christian evangelization. Luke lists four central characteristics of the early Christian believers in the first verse of our reading, and expands upon them in the verses that follow. First of all, they listened attentively to the teaching of the apostles. The apostles had known Jesus, and hearing what the apostles had to say about Jesus brought the early believers into touch with Him. Like Jesus, the apostles did "many wonders and signs" that served to carry forward the mission of Jesus. Secondly, they devoted themselves to the common life. They spent time together and took joy in their community. Luke tells us that they had all things in common and helped community members out as needs arose. This could mean that everybody gave over to the community everything that he or she possessed and depended fully on the community for sustenance. It is more likely, however, that people maintained ownership of resources, but made them available to care for particular needs. They were also devoted to "the breaking of the bread." Scholars wonder whether this is a deliberate and clear reference to the Eucharist, but it certainly refers to something more than an ordinary meal. It was a gathering that was characterized by "exultation and sincerity of heart," attitudes appropriate for dining with the Lord. Finally, there was prayer. These early Christians met for prayer every day in the temple. There was as yet no separation between Jews and Christians, and the Christians seemed simply to have united themselves with the daily public prayers of the temple. "And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved." This seems to be an allusion to baptism, the fundamental encounter with Christ that is not otherwise mentioned in this passage. Apostolic leadership, care for one another, sharing in the supper of the Lord, praying: these were the elements that characterized the church at its earliest times. It was a time of joy and generosity and glad contact with the Lord. It was a time of fervor. That primitive Christian community is the same church of which we are members. Over the centuries we have taken on lots of extra baggage. We express our contact with the Lord in somewhat different ways. But we are still dependent on the apostles, still reaching out to one another, still "breaking the bread," still a people of prayer — and still joyful and still eager to praise the Lord. For reflection and discussion** How do I express my participation in the life of the church? Where do we express care for one another in our parish?

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