Third Sunday of Easter -- Universal Restoration
April 18, 2021 -- Originally written in 2018 The liturgical season of Easter is the only time that our readings are all from the New Testament. During this season the first readings are from the Acts of the Apostles. Today's reading from Acts is another occasion where our Roman Catholic Lectionary differs from the Revised Common Lectionary and omits scripture verses. This textual omission significantly changes the meaning and therefore our understanding of the scriptural message. Today's first reading is from Chapter 3 of Acts, some of the beginning verses were read last week. In it there is a cripple beggar outside the temple, where Peter and John are about to enter. Peter tells the beggar, “‘I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you.” Peter then cures the man in Jesus' name. Then we are told the man jumped and began to walk “and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” People swarmed around the t