Second Week of Easter
19th April 2023 (Wedesday) Readings and Reflection
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Acts 5:17-26
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
Psalm: 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R/. The Lowly one called, and the Lord heard him Or: Alleluia.
Gospel : John 3:16-21
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Light or darkness!
Indicative: God never wants us to perish. He is always offering us His own life. Be lightened to see the truth and receive and live His life {alertSuccess}
1. God who loved the world and sacrificed His only Son, gives the gift of faith, salvation and eternal life. This gift from God calls for a choice. This is the choice to be made: Accept the new life in faith, come to light, dispel the shades of darkness, be enlightened, and do the works of light.
2. But the priests and the Jewish authorities made a choice against the life, truth and light offered by God. Thereby, they prefer to live within their prisons of legalism, self-righteousness, hypocrisy and stubbornness. Consequently, they continue to oppose the way of Jesus.
3. They are filled with jealousy at the rising fame of the apostles, and the spread of faith in Jesus. So they put them in the public jail. But they do not realise that nothing can block the power of the Lord. No doors of prison can imprison the followers of Christ. That is why the apostles would walk out freely despite the secure lock and tight guard.
4. The Lord opens the doors of the prison, through his angel, and sets them once again on the mission of preaching and bearing witness. This shows very clearly that it is foolish to put hurdles in the way of God.
5. Let us not blame God that He judges and condemns us mercilessly. Because He is merciful only, He sacrificed His own Son as our ransom for our salvation. It is actually an auto-judgment. It is we who condemn ourselves by our rejection of His life, light and truth.
Imperative: Be open and receive His life in faith. Allow Him to enlighten you with His light. And see the truth and walk the way of truth in authenticity and integrity{alertSuccess}