Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 19, 2023

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

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 3.16-21

John

Chapter 3

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 powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, obedience, and the transformative power of God's love. The first reading from Acts recounts the courage of the Apostles who, despite imprisonment and persecution, continued to preach the Good News. Freed miraculously by an angel, they returned to the temple, undeterred by the risks, embodying unwavering commitment to their mission. This passage highlights the early Christian community's resilience and trust in divine providence amidst adversity. The Gospel from John presents one of the most profound expressions of God's love: the gift of His only Son, Jesus Christ. This passage emphasizes that God's intent is not to condemn but to save, offering eternal life to all who believe. It contrasts light and darkness, urging us to embrace truth and reject evil. Jesus, the Light of the World, reveals that our works must align with God's truth, reflecting our commitment to living in His grace. These readings intertwine themes of obedience and faith. The Apostles' perseverance mirrors Jesus' obedience to His Father's will, demonstrating that true discipleship involves standing firm in faith despite challenges. In our daily lives, we are called to embrace this same courage and trust, trusting in God's plan even when faced with obstacles. Let us choose to walk in the light of Christ, allowing His truth to guide our actions and decisions. May we, like the Apostles, faithfully proclaim God's love and live as beacons of hope in a world often shrouded in darkness.