Reading 1
Acts 4:13-21
Observing the boldness of Peter and John
and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men,
the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed,
and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.
Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them,
they could say nothing in reply.
So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin,
and conferred with one another, saying,
“What are we to do with these men?
Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign
was done through them, and we cannot deny it.
But so that it may not be spread any further among the people,
let us give them a stern warning
never again to speak to anyone in this name.”
So they called them back
and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Peter and John, however, said to them in reply,
“Whether it is right in the sight of God
for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges.
It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
After threatening them further,
they released them,
finding no way to punish them,
on account of the people who were all praising God
for what had happened.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 118:1 and 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21
R. (21a) I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD has struck with power.”
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.
Though the LORD has indeed chastised me,
yet he has not delivered me to death.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Mark 16:9-15
When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,
he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
out of whom he had driven seven demons.
She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that he was alive
and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
After this he appeared in another form
to two of them walking along on their way to the country.
They returned and told the others;
but they did not believe them either.
But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them
and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart
because they had not believed those
who saw him after he had been raised.
He said to them, “Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: ONLY JESUS LOVES NOBODIES
"What shall we do with these men?" –Acts 4:15
Like the apostles in today's Gospel reading, many Christians today are stubborn and lacking in faith (Mk 16:14). Like Peter and John, most Christians in the world are uneducated and unimportant by the world's standards (Acts 4:13). The world uses and abuses these simple, weak, and sinful nobodies. It threatens them and tries to stop them from being witnesses for the risen Jesus (see Acts 4:17).
What does Jesus do with average people in all their weaknesses and sins? Jesus does not try to control them with threats. Rather, He corrects them so that they will not be controlled and manipulated by their carnal desires and the pressures of the world (Mk 16:14). In contrast to the world, Jesus does not try to put a stop to the talk of the nobodies but commands them to go and proclaim the gospel to all creation (Mk 16:15).
No one respects, frees, empowers, and loves people as Jesus does. The risen Jesus is the only Hope for the oppressed and also for the oppressive people of the world. Give your life to Jesus. Only He will respect you and not reject you (Jn 6:37).
PRAYER: Risen Jesus, thank You for choosing and cherishing the weak, lowborn, and despised (1 Cor 1:27-28).
PROMISE: "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight for us to obey you rather than God. Surely we cannot help speaking of what we have heard and seen." –Acts 4:19-20
PRAISE: Alleluia! Jesus is risen! Jesus will raise from the dead those who believe in Him! (Jn 11:26) Alleluia!
No comments:
Post a Comment