Christ the Fulfillment: St. Paul Proclaims the Past, and the Power of the Present

Christ the Fulfillment: St. Paul Proclaims the Past, and the Power of the Present The Church marks the midpoint of the Easter season and . . . . . . highlights a shift in the liturgical readings toward Jesus’ teachings during the Last Supper. These teachings serve to deepen the understanding of the mysteries of Christ’s death and resurrection. The Homily emphasizes that these events are not just historical but living realities made present through the liturgy, especially in the Mass. The Decisive Moment in History Saint Paul’s speech in the synagogue, in the First Reading, underscores that the entire history of Israel . . . Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets . . . was not merely a buildup to Christ, but served the purpose of revealing Him. Paul proclaims that Jesus’ resurrection is the decisive moment in history, fulfilling and surpassing all that came before. Jesus’ act of washing the disciples’ feet sets the tone for discipleship: humility, service, and fidelity. The Mass is emphasized as the place where Christ’s sacrifice is made present, where believers physically engage with the saving mystery. The upcoming gospel are not just teachings but revelations that invite Christians to enter more deeply into the death and resurrection of Jesus . . . a reality proclaimed and professed in every Eucharist. Listen to: Christ the Fulfillment: St. Paul Proclaims the Past, and the Power of the Present ------------------------------------------------------------ A Quote from the Homily What a powerful statement that is. That the fulcrum of all of this, the point of all of this, the goal of those many centuries of history of that tortured relationship of Israel with its God, this history of faithfulness and unfaithfulness all comes down to this glorious point now where we see that God has indeed done something unexpected, something marvelous, something new. And so it is. Paul concludes his reflection with those words of John the Baptist. I am not the one. Nothing in the past is the one. There is one who is greater than I, and now Paul announces the one who is greater, the one who is greater than all of the others, is the one who has risen from the dead. The one who is greater, the one who is the reason for all of these other things. ------------------------------------------------------------ Christ the Savior with the Eucharist: Spanish Painter: Juan de Juanes:  1545 – 1550 This oil-based painting on wood is one of three parts. This part shows Our Lord holding the Eucharist and Chalice ------------------------------------------------------------ Gospel Reading: John 13: 16-20 First Reading: Acts 13: 13-25