Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 14, 2021
First Reading: Acts 5.17-26
17Then the high priest and all those who were with him, that is, the heretical sect of the Sadducees, rose up and were filled with jealousy18And they laid hands on the Apostles, and they placed them in the common prison19But in the night, an Angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out, saying20"Go and stand in the temple, speaking to the people all these words of life.21And when they had heard this, they entered the temple at first light, and they were teaching. Then the high priest, and those who were with him, approached, and they called together the council and all the elders of the sons of Israel. And they sent to the prison to have them brought22But when the attendants had arrived, and, upon opening the prison, had not found them, they returned and reported to them23saying: "We found the prison certainly locked up with all diligence, and the guards standing before the door. But upon opening it, we found no one within.24Then, when the magistrate of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were uncertain about them, as to what should happen25But someone arrived and reported to them, "Behold, the men whom you placed in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.26Then the magistrate, with the attendants, went and brought them without force. For they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned
Psalm 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 3.16-21
16For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life17For God did not send his Son into the world, in order to judge the world, but in order that the world may be saved through him18Whoever believes in him is not judged. But whoever does not believe is already judged, because he does not believe in the name of the only-begotten Son of God19And this is the judgment: that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness more than light. For their works were evil20For everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not go toward the Light, so that his works may not be corrected21But whoever acts in truth goes toward the Light, so that his works may be manifested, because they have been accomplished in God.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on obedience, freedom, and the call to live as children of light. The first reading from Acts recounts the Apostles’ courage in the face of persecution. Despite being imprisoned by the Sadducees, they are miraculously freed by an angel and return to the temple to continue teaching. Their unwavering commitment to spreading the Good News, even in the face of danger, reminds us that true freedom comes from obeying God’s will, not from escaping human constraints. The Gospel from John offers a profound meditation on light and darkness. Jesus, the Light of the world, reveals God’s love and offers salvation to all. Yet, the passage also warns that those who prefer darkness to light do so because their deeds are evil. The choice between light and darkness is not just a moral one but a spiritual one, reflecting our willingness to embrace truth and live in God’s grace.
The readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on the tension between human opposition and divine providence. In Acts, the religious leaders are baffled by the Apostles’ escape, symbolizing the futility of human efforts to suppress God’s plan. In John’s Gospel, this tension is spiritual: the world resists the Light because it exposes sin, but those who embrace the Light find eternal life. Together, these passages remind us that living as disciples of Christ requires courage, fidelity, and a willingness to stand out in a world often shrouded in darkness.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Where am I being called to stand firm in my faith despite challenges? How am I choosing light over darkness in my choices and actions? The moral lesson is clear: God’s love and truth set us free, but this freedom demands that we live as witnesses to the Light. May we, like the Apostles, trust in God’s providence and, like those who act in truth, walk confidently toward the Light, allowing our lives to reflect the grace and love of Christ.