April 27
Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intentions
7:45 AM – Tom Dadey / Rosemary Evans
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 5:17-26
The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the jail to have them brought in. But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were at a loss about them, as to what this would come to. Then someone came in and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people.” Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
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.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
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.
Gospel Acclamation
John 3:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so love the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
John 3:16-21
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
“The Lord hears the cry of the poor.”
Reflection
The power of the Holy Spirit in the apostles and early believers produces amazing growth for the community, but as usually is the case, such signs and wonders attract intense opposition and jealousy from the current religious ‘leaders.’ They exhibit great courage and boldness now, when not long before this they had been locked in the upper room for fear of what might come to them, should they be further connected to Jesus. But since then, there has been a radical change, a change that has come through the grace of the Holy Spirit and the encounter with the Resurrected Jesus. What could sustain such confidence in these disciples now, especially as the threats they had originally feared are almost certain to find them? An authentic encounter with Love, particularly as described by Jesus in our Gospel today.
Out of love for the Lord, they are willing to lay down their lives and face whatever hardship will come their way, because of their desire to reflect the most immense form of love as first demonstrated by God himself: God so loved the world (immeasurably so, and without limit) that he gave his only Son. He gave the gift of himself in his entirety; life completely poured out, he gave it all. St. Gregory the Great: “The proof of love is given by action.” And we have received the greatest of gifts through the actions of Jesus. Our gratitude and response to such a gift is what our lives must reflect. As the Apostles now live from a source of strength not their own, we can see they have learned the supreme lesson that laying down life in love for Jesus and his body the Church actually leads to life and not death.
Peace,
Fr. Foley
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