April 23
Saturday in the Octave of Easter
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intentions
9:00 AM – Juanita Boada / Chuck & Regina Harty
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 4:13-21
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.”
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.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 118:1 and 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21
R. (21a) I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
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.
“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.
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.
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
Mark 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.
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.
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.”
“I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.”
Reflection
Jesus did not choose the best and the brightest people to be his followers. He chose ordinary fishermen, tax collectors and farmers to spread the word of the Kingdom of God. This fact was something that puzzled the well-educated leaders of the Jews and the elders. In their hearts the Jewish leaders knew of the limitations of the disciples, but they could not deny the powerful effect that their words had on the people. As the elders continue to put the disciples on trial, they warn them not to preach about Christ again. The disciples reply by saying that they cannot promise this – so strong is their belief in the risen Christ now. Since the authorities continue to be afraid of public opinion which is in favor of the apostles and their message, they simply warn them not to continue their teaching.
The text from Saint Mark’s gospel goes back to the day of resurrection and tells us of one of the first meetings of Christ with his disciples. We learn that Mary Magdalene has told them of her encounter with Jesus, and the men who walked with him to Emmaus have also spoken of the risen Lord. So far, though, they have not accepted the word of anyone who said they had seen the risen Lord. They are spending their days in the upper room, hiding themselves and thinking that all is lost with the death of their hoped-for Messiah. Jesus, however, shows up to restore their faith. In fact, Jesus goes so far as to rebuke them because of their lack of faith. The gospel ends with the great mandate to “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.” The commitment of Peter and John in the first reading shows that they have taken this mandate to heart and are actively carrying it out. This mandate is also given to each of us to carry on no matter where we find ourselves in life. In the same way the apostles did before us, let us go forth into the world and share the joy that is in our hearts.
In God’s abundant blessings,
Deacon Dare
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