Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 19, 2022
First Reading: Acts 2.36-41
36Therefore, may the entire house of Israel know most certainly that God has made this same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.37Now when they had heard these things, they were contrite in heart, and they said to Peter and to the other Apostles: "What should we do, noble brothers?38Yet truly, Peter said to them: "Do penance; and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit39For the Promise is for you and for your sons, and for all who are far away: for whomever the Lord our God will have called.40And then, with very many other words, he testified and he exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this depraved generation.41Therefore, those who accepted his discourse were baptized. And about three thousand souls were added on that day
Psalm 33
1A Psalm of David. Exult in the Lord, you just ones; together praise the upright2Confess to the Lord with stringed instruments; sing psalms to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings3Sing to him a new song. Sing psalms to him skillfully, with loud exclamation4For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his works are in faith5He loves mercy and judgment. The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord6By the word of the Lord, the heavens were established, and all their power, by the Spirit of his mouth7gathering together the waters of the sea, as if in a container, placing the depths in storage8Let all the earth fear the Lord, and may all the inhabitants of the world quake before him9For he spoke, and they became. He commanded, and they were created10The Lord scatters the counsels of the nations. Moreover, he reproves the thoughts of the people, and he rejects the counsels of the leaders11But the counsel of the Lord remains for eternity, the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation12Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his inheritance13The Lord has looked down from heaven. He has seen all the sons of men14From his well-prepared dwelling place, he has gazed upon all who dwell on the earth15He has formed the hearts of each one of them; he understands all their works16The king is not saved by great power, nor will the giant be saved by his many powers17The horse is false safety; for he will not be saved by the abundance of his powers18Behold, the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him and on those who hope in his mercy19so as to rescue their souls from death and to feed them during famine20Our soul remains with the Lord. For he is our helper and protector21For in him, our heart will rejoice, and in his holy name, we have hoped22Let your mercy be upon us, O Lord, just as we have hoped in you
Gospel: John 20.11-18
11But Mary was standing outside the tomb, weeping. Then, while she was weeping, she bowed down and gazed into the tomb12And she saw two Angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been placed, one at the head, and one at the feet13They say to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have placed him.14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus15Jesus said to her: "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you seeking?" Considering that it was the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have moved him, tell me where you have placed him, and I will take him away.16Jesus said to her, "Mary!" And turning, she said to him, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher)17Jesus said to her: "Do not touch me. For I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brothers and tell them: ‘I am ascending to my Father and to your Father, to my God and to your God.’ 18Mary Magdalene went, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord, and these are the things that he said to me.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of encountering God and the call to live as witnesses of His love. In the first reading from Acts, Peter addresses the crowd after the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. His words pierce the hearts of the people, leading them to repentance and baptism. This moment marks the birth of the Church, as three thousand souls are added to the community of believers. The passage emphasizes the urgency of responding to God’s grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live as children of God.
In the Gospel, we find Mary Magdalene at the tomb, overcome with grief and confusion. Her encounter with the risen Jesus is deeply personal and transformative. When Jesus calls her name, she recognizes Him and is filled with joy. Yet, He tells her not to cling to Him but to go and share the news with the disciples. This moment highlights Mary’s role as the first witness to the resurrection and the importance of sharing the Good News with others. Both readings remind us that our faith is not just a personal experience but a call to mission.
As we reflect on these passages, let us ask ourselves: How am I responding to God’s grace in my life? Am I open to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit? Like Mary Magdalene, are we willing to trust in God’s plan, even when it challenges our expectations? And like the early Church, are we living as witnesses of God’s love in the world? May we embrace the call to repentance, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and share the joy of the Gospel with others, just as Mary and the early disciples did.