Jesus as a Lamb 3rd Sunday Easter Year A
Acts 2:14, 22-33; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Luke 24:13-35
Describing the redeeming blood of Christ, Peter, in the second reading, writes: “you were ransomed … not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless, unblemished lamb.”
Reflecting on Jesus, the Son of God, identifying himself with a lamb, Benedict XVI states: “God comes as a lamb and not as a lion or a wolf or a bull.” [1] At the time of Jesus, people expected that when God came to set the world right, he would reveal himself as worldly kings do wrathfully, like a fierce lion, a terrifying wolf, or a powerful bull. For this reason, a principal symbol for Rome was a powerful wolf. For Germanic people, the ferocious bear has been a symbol.
Other cultures and nations, including today, identify with the lion. God’s ways though are not our ways, and for this reason, God continually surprises us. Describing one essential surprise, Benedict XVI writes, “Redemption does not come through the big, strong animals that are symbols of the powers and forces of this world. God comes as a lamb, in the power of defenseless love, and this is his might.”
Then, reflecting on the common human nature we share, he asserts, “that deep down we were waiting for the Lamb, for the greater power of defenseless love that overcomes the noisy, violent powers of this world, that does not destroy but heals.” Finally, he concludes, “God comes as the Lamb; this is the redemption of the world.”[2]
Interestingly, our current Holy Father chose the name Leo, which is Latin for “lion”. Our Holy Father’s name, therefore, is Pope Lion. How has Pope Leo been lion-like? I believe God has surprised us again, for through our Holy Father, our Heavenly Father, God the Father, has been emphasizing peace, and as a lion, without fear, not because we have worldly power, but because our Lord and Savior is with us.
Pope Francis, in his usual very practical manner, advised that if we wish to spread peace in the world, especially in our families, three words are needed, “‘Please,’ ‘Thank you,’ ‘Sorry.’ Three essential words! … In our families, when we are not overbearing and ask: ‘May I?’; in our families, when we are not selfish and can say: ‘Thank you!’; and in our families, when someone realizes that he or she did something wrong and is able to say ‘Sorry!’ our family experiences peace and joy.” Let us not be stingy about using these words, but keep repeating them, day after day.”[3]
Lord Jesus, Lamb of God, you have been guiding us with your other worldly wisdom through our Holy Fathers, your vicars on earth. May we participate ever more in your peaceful, ways and may the world we are passing through be ever more influenced by your truth, peace, love, and joy. – May God Bless You All – Father Peter
[1] Benedict XVI, Teaching and Learning the Love of God: Being a Priest Today with a preface by Pope Francis, trans. Michael J. Miller (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2016), 164-165.
[2] Benedict XVI, Teaching and Learning the Love of God: Being a Priest Today with a preface by Pope Francis, trans. Michael J. Miller (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2016), 164-165.
[3] Amoris Laetitia, The Joy of Love: On Love in the Family, March 19, 2016, 133. Francis, The Complete Encyclicals, Bulls, and Apostolic Exhortations: Volume 1 (Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 2016), 394.
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