Daily Readings - Sat Apr 15 2023
Acts
13Then, seeing the constancy of Peter and John, having verified that they were men without letters or learning, they wondered. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus14Also, seeing the man who had been cured standing with them, they were unable to say anything to contradict them15But they ordered them to withdraw outside, away from the council, and they conferred among themselves16saying: "What shall we do to these men? For certainly a public sign has been done through them, before all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It is manifest, and we cannot deny it17But lest it spread further among the people, let us threaten them not to speak anymore in this name to any man.18And calling them in, they warned them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus19Yet truly, Peter and John said in response to them: "Judge whether it is just in the sight of God to listen to you, rather than to God20For we are unable to refrain from speaking the things that we have seen and heard.21But they, threatening them, sent them away, having not found a way that they might punish them because of the people. For all were glorifying the things that had been done in these events
Mark
9But he, rising early on the first Sabbath, appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons10She went and announced it to those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping11And they, upon hearing that he was alive and that he had been seen by her, did not believe it12But after these events, he was shown in another likeness to two of them walking, as they were going out to the countryside13And they, returning, reported it to the others; neither did they believe them14Finally, he appeared to the eleven, as they sat at table. And he rebuked them for their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen that he had risen again15And he said to them: "Go forth to the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter the early Christian community grappling with the challenges of spreading the Gospel message. The first reading from Acts 4:13-21 describes Peter and John standing before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council, after they had healed a man in the name of Jesus. The authorities, while acknowledging the miracle, sought to silence them, fearing the spread of Jesus’ teachings. Peter and John, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly declared that they could not keep silent about what they had seen and heard, even in the face of threats. Their courage in the face of adversity serves as a powerful witness to the transformative power of faith.
The Gospel reading from Mark 16:9-15 shifts our focus to the Resurrection, where Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene, then to two disciples on the road, and finally to the eleven remaining apostles. Despite these appearances, the disciples struggle with disbelief, a common human response to the extraordinary. Jesus, however, does not abandon them in their doubt. Instead, he commissions them to “go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” This Great Commission reminds us that even in our own moments of uncertainty, we are called to share the Good News with courage and trust in God’s plan.
These readings remind us that faith often requires us to step out of our comfort zones and confront challenges with boldness. Just as Peter, John, and the disciples faced skepticism and fear, we too may encounter resistance or doubt in our lives. Yet, like them, we are called to trust in the power of God’s Word and to share it with others, even when it is difficult. Let us ask for the grace to be fearless in our witness, to trust in the truth of the Gospel, and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in living out our faith with integrity and love.