The fifth Sunday of the Resurrection 

 

The church put in front of us the following readings:

 

*The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles 9: 1--19

          Saul, the Hebrew name for Paul {and this is Romanian because he possessed Roman citizenship from his birth (Acts 16:27)}, he is a Pharisee, professed in the law and jealous of the faith and the Pharisaic doctrine “the most strict doctrine of Judaism.” He received his knowledge from Gamaliel ”, was a persecutor of the church until he said of himself, “ I was trying to destroy it ”(Gal. 1:13).

          While he was going to Damascus to kill Christians, Jesus appears to him and reveals the truth; his zeal for the true faith and his ignorance of Jesus are pushing him to persecute the Christians because he imagined them as false deceivers. The Jesus of Nazareth, who is preached is the Messiah Saul waits for and defends in a reverse way. With the guidance of the Lord himself, Saul enters Damascus. He meets Hananiah, a disciple of the Lord who, with a particular recommendation from Jesus, teaches him (Saul) news of Jesus' life and principles that baptized him. The Lord also reveals to Hananiah that he chose Saul and assigned him to serve him, to perform high testimony and eloquent martyrdom.

          Paul was guided in his thought and feelings, and used his jealousy and knowledge to proclaim and defend the truth according to God's thought and will (not according to the traditions of humankind). He knew God as he is, and as he wills, not as people portray and claim him. He will proclaim that his faith goes back to God Himself and not to humans. He received the revelation from Jesus, and in the light of the contemplation of his biblical culture, he reconsidered his calculations, corrected his course, and went on to announce what he knew of God. 

          By his example, the Church invites all people to reconsider their lives, principles, and behavior and adopt the mind of Jesus, which he will be proud of. And Jesus called us to see everything with the mind of God and His Spirit because God has poured out the Spirit from Him to know what He has bestowed upon us.

 

*The second reading from Epistle to the Hebrews 10: 19-36

          The writer of the letter invites believers to trust God. He had opened the way for people to the “Holy of Holiness,” that is, to meet the Holy God with confidence, as was the case for a man before he sinned. This way is Jesus Christ, who leads us to God. He is the God who we know, who loved us to the fullest extent, who washed us with the water of baptism, cleansed us of our iniquity with his pure blood, and assured us of the hope of eternal life if we remain faithful to him as he is faithful with us. The kingdom is present where God is present. It is present in the believer’s heart and conscience. If our intentions are righteous and our hearts are purified, then God will be in us, and we are in him.

          The writer also asked that the believers care about one another lovingly, cooperate in good deeds, and not be interrupted. Finally, he invites the believers to benefit from the experiences they have lived to improve their behavior, protect themselves from falling again into sin, and be patient with their hardships. To be encouraged by hope and not lose their confidence in God. Because trust has a great reward with God.

 

*The third reading from John 21: 1-14

          Jesus appears to the apostles again to save them from their disappointment. Especially to confirm them in their calling and mission. Peter is determined to return to his early career in fishing and selling to live. He was believed that his denial of Jesus made him lose his position as head of the church. The other six disciples support Peter's decision and accompany him to the hunt. But the Lord hastened to save them from the new experience. Jesus knew who chose and how he chose. He forgave them for their shortcomings and beliefs. They caught nothing with their efforts. As for the guidance of the Lord, they prospered and hunted more than they expected. Without the Lord, they will not succeed in doing anything (John 4:15). And Jesus needs their nets and forearms. But he is going to fish. He knows how to cast the net and where. They are his workers, and their wages are not lost. Christ leads the church, but through Peter and his chosen companions. And no matter how weak or disappointed the apostles, their mission will succeed because it is the Lord who works in the apostles of all times. It is enough that they do not lose confidence in him.

          Peter pursued his mission and did what the Lord had entrusted him with, and he did not despair, although he denied and did not allow his companions to despair. Take care of them in their distress and protect them. And the Lord remains to save Peter and to support his struggle with the rest of the disciples over the ages because he remains with them even in his sensual absence, “Behold, I am with you throughout the days until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).