April 22
Friday in the Octave of Easter
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intentions
7:45 AM – Dr. Alfred Falcone / Francoise Falcone
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 4:1-12
After the crippled man had been cured, while Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them, disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They laid hands on Peter and John and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. But many of those who heard the word came to believe and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly class. They brought them into their presence and questioned them, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 118:1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27a
R. (22) The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
Gospel Acclamation
Psalms 118:24
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
John 21:1-14
Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
“The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.”
Reflection
I always marvel at the extent to which Saint Peter and his fellow disciples have been strengthened after the Resurrection of Christ. Here is Peter, the same guy who denied Jesus three times during his Passion, who is now going about preaching the message of the Kingdom and curing people in Jesus’ name. This is a giant leap of bravery for Peter, who knows that he will no doubt experience the same push back from the Jewish leaders and the Romans that Jesus saw. The possibility of death by crucifixion is all around him and the other apostles. Today that conflict with the Jewish authorities comes to fruition because of Peter’s courageous and miraculous activities. In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter addresses the elders who have arrested him and John. He tells them that there is only one name in all the world that can save us and that is the name of Christ. It is strengthening to see Peter – a humble fisherman from Galilee – taking on the most powerful of the Jewish authorities and boldly proclaiming the very things that they forbid Jesus from proclaiming and ultimately put him to death for.
In today’s gospel reading from John, we see Peter returning to his roots and going fishing. After fishing all night, Peter, John, and the other disciples catch nothing, but as they see a mysterious figure on the beach who tells them to cast their nets one more time, they get a vaguely familiar feeling. Sure enough, they realize that it is Jesus when they come up with a huge catch of fish. Peter is overcome with joy at seeing his Lord again and jumps into the water to be the first to meet with Jesus. In his third post-resurrection appearance, Jesus feeds both the bodies and the souls of his disciples. It is in these days that fall between the resurrection of Jesus and the upcoming feast of Pentecost that Jesus completes the preparation of his followers, readying them for the task of spreading the Gospel to all the world. It is because of their success in this work that our faith is known to the whole world. Let us bask in the joy of this wonderful time and draw strength from the Word of God.
Peace,
Deacon Dare
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