Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 23, 2020

First Reading: Acts 5.27-33

²⁷And when they had brought them, they stood them before the council. And the high priest questioned them²⁸and said: "We strongly order you not to teach in this name. For behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you wish to bring the blood of this man upon us.²⁹But Peter and the Apostles responded by saying: "It is necessary to obey God, more so than men³⁰The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a tree³¹It is he whom God has exalted at his right hand as Ruler and Savior, so as to offer repentance and the remission of sins to Israel³²And we are witnesses of these things, with the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who are obedient to him.³³When they had heard these things, they were deeply wounded, and they were planning to put them to death

Psalm 34

Psalms

Chapter 34

¹To David, when he changed his appearance in the sight of Abimelech, and so he dismissed him, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will be ever in my mouth²In the Lord, my soul will be praised. May the meek listen and rejoice³Magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol his name in itself⁴I sought the Lord, and he heeded me, and he carried me away from all my tribulations⁵Approach him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be confounded⁶This poor one cried out, and the Lord heeded him, and he saved him from all his tribulations⁷The Angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear him, and he will rescue them⁸Taste and see that the Lord is sweet. Blessed is the man who hopes in him⁹Fear the Lord, all you his saints. For there is no destitution for those who fear him¹⁰The rich have been needy and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good thing¹¹Come forward, sons. Listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord¹²Which is the man who wills life, who chooses to see good days¹³Prohibit your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit¹⁴Turn away from evil, and do good. Inquire about peace, and pursue it¹⁵The eyes of the Lord are on the just, and his ears are with their prayers¹⁶But the countenance of the Lord is upon those who do evil, to perish the remembrance of them from the earth¹⁷The just cried out, and the Lord heard them, and he freed them from all their tribulations¹⁸The Lord is near to those who are troubled in heart, and he will save the humble in spirit¹⁹Many are the afflictions of the just, but from them all the Lord will free them²⁰The Lord preserves all of their bones, not one of them shall be broken²¹The death of a sinner is very harmful, and those who hate the just will fare badly²²The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants, and none of those who hope in him will fare badly

Gospel: John 3.31-36

John

Chapter 3

³¹He who comes from above, is above everything. He who is from below, is of the earth, and he speaks about the earth. He who comes from heaven is above everything³²And what he has seen and heard, about this he testifies. And no one accepts his testimony³³Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified that God is truthful³⁴For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God. For God does not give the Spirit by measure³⁵The Father loves the Son, and he has given everything into his hand³⁶Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. But whoever is unbelieving toward the Son shall not see life; instead the wrath of God remains upon him.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on the essence of faith and obedience. The first reading from Acts 5:27-33 presents Peter and the apostles standing courageously before the council, refusing to cease their teachings about Jesus. Despite the threat of death, they affirm their commitment to obeying God over men, testifying to Jesus' resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This scene underscores the early Christian church's perseverance amidst persecution, highlighting the apostles' unwavering dedication to their faith. The Gospel from John 3:31-36 shifts our focus to Jesus' divine nature and His role as a witness to the Father. Jesus, coming from above, speaks of heavenly truths, offering eternal life to believers. John emphasizes that faith in Jesus is paramount, distinguishing those who accept God's truth from those who reject it. This passage invites us to consider the profound implications of believing in Jesus and the eternal consequences of such belief. These readings intersect in their emphasis on obedience to God and the significance of testimony. Both narratives call us to stand firm in our faith, even when faced with adversity. In our daily lives, we may encounter challenges that test our commitment to our beliefs. Like the apostles, we are called to be faithful witnesses, trusting in God's plan and remaining steadfast in the face of opposition. As we navigate life's trials, let us draw strength from the examples of Peter and Jesus, remembering that our faith is a testament to God's enduring love and truth. May we embrace the courage to live out our beliefs, trusting in God's providence and remaining faithful witnesses in a world that often resists the Gospel.