Daily Readings - Mon Apr 05 2021

¹⁴But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and he spoke to them: "Men of Judea, and all those who are staying in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and incline your ears to my words²²Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus the Nazarene is a man confirmed by God among you through the miracles and wonders and signs that God accomplished through him in your midst, just as you also know²³This man, under the definitive plan and foreknowledge of God, was delivered by the hands of the unjust, afflicted, and put to death²⁴And he whom God has raised up has broken the sorrows of Hell, for certainly it was impossible for him to be held by it²⁵For David said about him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always in my sight, for he is at my right hand, so that I may not be moved²⁶Because of this, my heart has rejoiced, and my tongue has exulted. Moreover, my flesh shall also rest in hope²⁷For you will not abandon my soul to Hell, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption²⁸You have made known to me the ways of life. You will completely fill me with happiness by your presence.²⁹Noble brothers, permit me to speak freely to you about the Patriarch David: for he passed away and was buried, and his sepulcher is with us, even to this very day³⁰Therefore, he was a prophet, for he knew that God had sworn an oath to him about the fruit of his loins, about the One who would sit upon his throne³¹Foreseeing this, he was speaking about the Resurrection of the Christ. For he was neither left behind in Hell, nor did his flesh see corruption³²This Jesus, God raised up again, and of this we are all witnesses³³Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the Promise of the Holy Spirit, he poured this out, just as you now see and hear

Matthew

Chapter 28

⁸And they went out of the tomb quickly, with fear and in great joy, running to announce it to his disciples⁹And behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Hail." But they drew near and took hold of his feet, and they adored him¹⁰Then Jesus said to them: "Do not be afraid. Go, announce it to my brothers, so that they may go to Galilee. There they shall see me.¹¹And when they had departed, behold, some of the guards went into the city, and they reported to the leaders of the priests all that had happened¹²And gathering together with the elders, having taken counsel, they gave an abundant sum of money to the soldiers¹³saying: "Say that his disciples arrived at night and stole him away, while we were sleeping¹⁴And if the procurator hears about this, we will persuade him, and we will protect you.¹⁵Then, having accepted the money, they did as they were instructed. And this word has been spread among the Jews, even to this day

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that illuminate the profound impact of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The first reading from Acts presents Peter's impassioned speech to the crowd in Jerusalem, where he proclaims that Jesus's death and resurrection were part of God's divine plan. Peter uses the words of David from the Psalms to underscore that the Messiah would not remain in the grave, and he boldly declares that Jesus's resurrection is the fulfillment of this prophecy. This speech is a pivotal moment in the early Church, as Peter, once timid and uncertain, now stands with unwavering conviction, testifying to the truth of Christ's victory over death. The Gospel reading from Matthew complements this by recounting the immediate aftermath of the Resurrection. The women, filled with a mix of fear and joy, encounter the risen Jesus, who calms their fears and commissions them to spread the news to the disciples. Meanwhile, the guards, attempting to suppress the truth, are bribed to spread a false narrative that the disciples stole Jesus's body. This contrast between the women's faithful obedience and the guards' deceit highlights the tension between light and darkness, truth and falsehood, that has marked human history since the Fall. These readings remind us that the Resurrection is not merely an historical event but a living reality that shapes our lives today. Just as Peter and the women faced their fears and uncertainties, we too are called to trust in God's plan, even when circumstances seem daunting. The Resurrection assures us that God's power is greater than any human attempt to suppress or distort the truth. Let us, therefore, embrace the joy and hope that come from knowing that Christ has triumphed over death, and let us strive to live as witnesses to this truth, undeterred by the challenges and falsehoods we may encounter.