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Year A: Second Sunday of Easter Second Reading: 1 Peter 1: 17-21 The Peter proclaiming the death and resurrection and ascension into glory of Jesus is the same Peter who writes to the early Christians - and us - in today’s Second Reading. He uses the example of people living away from home - people who have for a long time been held captive by hostile forces - people for whom the ransom has been paid and who are now making their way home. What held people captive were the bonds of sin and death - but God stepped into human history and paid the ransom that set them free. Peter shows that the ransom required was beyond anything material - but required the freely given life of Jesus. The sacrifice of a lamb was part of the Jewish culture. As we heard on Holy Thursday, the Hebrew people were given clear instructions about the choice of lamb for the Passover Meal. They were not allowed to choose the poorest lamb in the flock - but one who was a strong one-year-old with no sign of sickness or weakness. The death of this lamb relived the death of the first Passover lambs as the Hebrews left Egypt and slavery. So Peter shows that it was the death of Jesus that marks a new Passover - He is the one through whose blood we are ransomed and able to walk away from the slavery of sin and into a new life of freedom. God did not choose the weakest of His children - but His only Son - the Perfect Human Being. Christ had been known from the beginning of the world - but was not revealed until the time was right. Then, God gave His Son to the world so that, through Him, humanity could be restored to faith and hope in God. It was a heavy price to pay - and shows the value God places on His human children. When we believe we are worthless, it might be good to remember that God disagrees - and remember what He was prepared to give for us. It is a sacrifice that imposes responsibility on us too. If we recognise what God has done for us - and the cost of that gift - then, we have to live wisely. As St Peter says, we are not home yet, we are only on the way and have a long way to go. It is still a dangerous path - and we could still be waylaid by those who wish us harm. However, Teresa of Avila offers words of encouragement: "You are travelling by the royal and safe road along which our Lord, all the elect, and the saints have passed." We are not alone on the journey - and many will rejoice with us when we reach home at the end of it... What does it mean for me?
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