SATURDAY - APRIL 17, 2021
"The Cross had asked the questions; the Resurrection had answered them...The Cross had asked: "Why does God permit evil and sin to nail Justice to a tree?" The Resurrection answered: "That sin, having done its worst, might exhaust itself and this be overcome by Love that is stronger than either sin or death."
~~Archbishop Fulton Sheen
TODAY'S READINGS
April 17, 2021
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
Lectionary: 272
Reading 1
As the number of disciples continued to grow,
the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews
because their widows
were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom,
whom we shall appoint to this task,
whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word.”
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community,
so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,
also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men to the Apostles
who prayed and laid hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread,
and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;
even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ is risen,
who made all things;
he has shown mercy on all people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea,
embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.
It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.
When they had rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat,
and they began to be afraid.
But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”
They wanted to take him into the boat,
but the boat immediately arrived at the shore
to which they were heading.
******************************
The Surprising Adventure
The busy day had reached its tiresome end. Unfortunately, we could not rest yet. We had to make our way to the next place, the next agenda, the next assignment that the Lord had given. Blindly. The storm-darkened night made it impossible to know what dangers lay ahead, let alone how to avoid them. But we forged on ahead. Crazy us!
This is what I imagine the disciples were thinking in John 6:16-21 before Jesus came walking on the water and said, "It is I. Do not be afraid."
If you've never experienced this sort of predicament, you've not worked for the Lord much. This is normal life for a disciple who genuinely wants to make a difference in the world by following and implementing the plans of Jesus.
What I like best about this scripture is how the disciples teleported from the middle of the Sea of Galilee to the beach at Capernaum. One moment they're waving at Jesus, beckoning him to join them in the boat, excited that he has arrived to help them, and the next moment their boat is hitting the rocky shore. Their hands were probably still in the air. The name of Jesus was probably still on their lips -- except, that last syllable probably became something that indicated surprise. Like, "Jeee-SUS!" Bam. "How'd we get here?"
Serving the Lord is an adventure. That's for sure.
What boat are you in right now that Jesus is using to take you somewhere in ministry?
The world is in such a mess, and there are so many victims of false teachings who are not going to make it to heaven unless they turn to Christ, that Jesus truly does need you -- each and every one of us.
Your boat is your current situation. Whatever and wherever. Jesus has use for it. Even the situation that has been a bad trial. Especially the situation that has been a bad trial. Jesus will make victory come from it when he uses it to calm the storms of others. If you say yes to him and watch for opportunities, you will find yourself on a surprising shore.
Do you know what happened the day after the disciples' boat got teleported? The crowds came looking for Jesus, and he told them about the Eucharist that he would provide at every Catholic Mass. He said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
How many people around you are not eating this bread? Jesus cares about them. Do you? Do you care enough to find out where Jesus wants to teleport your boat to next so that more people will discover what he is offering to them?
Today's Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Oh God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit instructed the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
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The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”
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