As we continue our journey through the Easter season, a time marked by the Resurrection of Our Lord and the profound joy it brings to the Christian soul, the Church’s liturgical readings provide us with deep food for thought and spiritual reflection. Today, I wish to delve into the themes presented in the readings for the Tuesday after the Third Sunday after Easter: 1 Peter 2:11-19 and John 16:16-22. These passages offer a compelling exploration of Christian suffering and joy, submission and expectation.
A Call to Holiness and Submission: 1 Peter 2:11-19
In his first epistle, Saint Peter addresses the early Christians, who were navigating the challenges of living a devout life in a non-Christian world. He urges them to live as “aliens and exiles” (1 Pet 2:11), a poignant reminder that our true home is not of this world but with God in Heaven. This perspective is crucial as we engage with the world, especially in times when our faith seems at odds with wider societal norms.
Saint Peter’s call for submission—to “every human institution” (1 Pet 2:13)—is particularly striking. This is not a call to blind obedience or passivity but rather a directive to engage with the world in a manner that reflects the humility and sacrifice of Christ. By honoring all people, loving the brotherhood, fearing God, and honoring the emperor, Christians are called to be a counter-cultural sign of God’s peace and justice.
This submission is further illuminated by the concept of suffering for doing good as a gracious act in the sight of God (1 Pet 2:20). Such endurance is not a mere resignation but a participation in the sufferings of Christ, who Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness (1 Pet 2:24).
The Joy That Will Be: John 16:16-22
Turning to the Gospel of John, Jesus provides a profound insight into the nature of Christian joy. He speaks of His departure from the world through the mystery of His Passion, Death, and ultimately, His Resurrection. “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me” (John 16:16). This statement encapsulates the transient sorrow of the Apostles and the forthcoming joy that no one can take from them.
The sorrow of the Apostles during the Crucifixion mirrors our own spiritual and emotional trials. Yet, the promise of seeing Christ again transforms this temporary grief into eternal joy. This passage invites us to reflect on the transient nature of our earthly struggles and the everlasting joy of communion with Christ.
Jesus uses the analogy of a woman in labor to describe this transformation from pain to joy—a powerful image that resonates deeply with the Christian experience. Just as a mother forgets the anguish of birth for the joy of having brought a child into the world, so too are Christians called to endure the present sufferings with the firm hope of the joy that comes from our spiritual rebirth in Christ.
Integrating These Teachings
As traditional Catholics, these passages challenge us to reflect on how we embody Christ’s teachings in our daily lives. Are we true “aliens and exiles” in our detachment from worldly values? Do we engage in societal structures with a spirit of Christian submission and witness? Moreover, do we maintain our hope in the transformative joy of Christ amid our sufferings?
The readings for this Tuesday after the Third Sunday after Easter thus serve as a profound reminder of the dual call to holy living through submission and the assurance of joy that transcends all earthly sorrow. As we continue to celebrate the Resurrection, may these scriptures inspire us to live more fully in the hope and joy of the Risen Christ.