April 10 – Third Sunday of Easter: To love like Jesus

First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 5:12-16 
Peter and the apostles perform many signs and wonders.

Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 118:2-4,13-15,22-24
A song of praise to the Lord.

Second Reading  Revelation 1:9-11a,12-13,17-19
John describes the instruction he received to write down his vision.

Gospel Reading
John 20:19-31

 

Todays Gospel presents to us the scene of Peter's repentance as three times Jesus asks him to make a profession of love. Jesus then explains just what Peter's love and leadership will require, foretelling Peter’s death by crucifixion: "you will stretch out your hands". This is agape love, that is self-forgetting love. Mother Theresa of Calcutta speaks of 'loving till it hurts'. That is Christian love. Can we love this way? Can we love the way Jesus loved?