April 15
Thursday of the Second Week of Easter
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intentions
7:45 AM – Jim Cohen / Wife
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
Acts 5:27-33
When the court officers had brought the Apostles in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders did we not, to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the Apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20
R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Gospel Acclamation
John 20:29
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
John 3:31-36
The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
“The Lord hears the cry of the poor.”
Reflection
Today we hear that the One, who comes to us from God the Father, will not be believed, will be contradicted by those around him, and yet His message will be true. This disbelief in Jesus will not cause his generosity or forgiveness to wane, but instead, his love for us will grow.
For those who have been baptized, the importance of knowing that Christ is always present to us through the Spirit not only gives comfort, but allows us the fortitude and wisdom to remain faithful to our baptismal vocation of service to God and his people.
During the Easter Vigil and Easter Day Masses, we had the opportunity to renew our baptismal promises. If we did renew those promises, we need to consider how our life in the world reflects those promises. If our life does not reflect those promises, this is the time to change the way we are living. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is always there for us, to allow us to change our ways and follow in a more perfect way the example of Jesus. If we fail to do this, are we not acting like those who chose not to believe Jesus?
Peace,
Fr. John
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