Fulfillment

04-18-2021Weekly Reflection© J. S. Paluch Company

It is interesting that during the Easter season, when we do not hear a reading from the Old Testament, it becomes so important. This is particularly true today. Peter’s speech begins with a prayer formula familiar to Jews: “The God of Abraham . . .” (Acts 3:13). It likewise contains the potent phrases “Holy and Righteous One” and “mouth of all the prophets” (3:14, 18). Peter was stating in no uncertain terms that the law, psalms, and prophets had been fulfilled in Christ.

This is reinforced by Jesus himself in the Gospel passage, when he states that everything in the scriptures (to the early Christians “the scriptures” were what we call the Old Testament) had to be fulfilled. Above all, Jesus and Peter both emphasize that we are witnesses to all of this, and are sent forth to bear witness to it in the world. The Latin Missa, from which our word “Mass” comes, means “sent” (as in “mission”). As we leave Mass today, let us remember to be witnesses to all that has been fulfilled in the risen Christ.

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