SATURDAY - April 18, 2020
"Now
let the heavens be joyful,
Let
earth her song begin:
Let the
round world keep triumph,
And all
that is therein;
Invisible
and visible,
Their
notes let all things blend,
For
Christ the Lord is risen
Our joy
that hath no end."
- Saint
John of Damascus
TODAY'S READINGS
April 18 2020
Saturday in the Octave of Easter
Lectionary: 266
Reading 1ACTS 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.”
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.
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 Psalm118:1 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.
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.
AlleluiaPS 118:24
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 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.
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.
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.”
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.”
******************************
Jesus wants to give you Peace in the COVID-19 Storm
by Fr. Thomas Calleja OFMConv
Qawra, Malta
Qawra, Malta
Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
The Resurrection of Jesus is pivotal to Christian faith. It's why, at the most solemn moment during Mass, the priest invites all to proclaim: "The mystery of Faith!" and all respond: "Christ has died, Christ is RISEN, Christ will come again!"
We all have loved ones who don’t take their faith seriously. Many live is if Jesus had not risen at all. Many just try to enjoy themselves and have as much as they can fun. Then we die and all is finished. Without knowing the resurrected Christ, life becomes a tragedy. But Jesus' story ends with Good News! Evil and death do not have the last word! Jesus conquered death with his Resurrection. And this Gospel message is still going on, even in this difficult time with this pandemic of Covid-19.
The word of God sheds light even in this moment when we are all experiencing fear and anxiety, and we are locked in our homes. It is only human to be afraid. Remember, the disciples were afraid after the arrest and passion of their Master: "They all gathered together behind locked doors, because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities" (John 20:19). They were afraid like us. They were behind closed doors like all of us.
But what happened next? John says, "Then Jesus came and stood among them and told them, 'Peace be with you'. When the disciples saw him they were filled with joy" (v 20).
My friends, I believe that this same Jesus, who promised to be with us till the end of time (Matthew 28:20), today, this Easter, is still with us. He wants to come into our households. He wants to assure us that he is alive. This is Good News! Jesus wants to say: "Have faith, only believe."
Jesus wants to remind us and say to us, "I am the Living One. I was dead but now I am alive for ever and ever" (Rev. 1:18). Jesus wants to give us his peace -- "the peace that the world cannot give". It's the peace and the same assurance felt by the sheep that we read about in Psalm 23. "Even if I go through the valley of darkness, I will not be afraid – why? – for You are with me, Lord" (v. 4). Brothers and sisters, I exhort you to have faith! Soon we celebrate the feast of the Divine Mercy. Let us trust in him.
Friends, this is the Good News the Lord put in my heart to share with you. Jesus loves us and he is going to overcome this difficult moment. I still remember what Pope Francis said some days ago using the image of the storm when the disciples were afraid. The Pontiff highlighted that Jesus was on the same boat with them. In the same way Jesus is on the same boat with us. As Jesus calmed down the rough seas then, he will also calm down the tempest we are going through.
Good brothers and sisters, let us turn to God in prayer like the disciples did in the upper room. I invite you to come as one family together with Mary the mother of Jesus and our mother. She knows our needs and surely intercedes for us and lifts up our prayers to her Son, who always listens to her prayers.
I promise to keep you all in my prayers. I wish you all a Blessed Easter. May the Risen Lord increase your faith in him. May Jesus give you his peace.
------------------------------
God Bless You.....
The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day
through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”
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