Daily Readings - Mon Apr 01 2024

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of God’s plan and the truth of the Resurrection. In the first reading from Acts, Peter stands before the crowd in Jerusalem and proclaims the good news of Jesus Christ. He reminds them that Jesus, though crucified, was raised by God, fulfilling the promises of Scripture. Peter’s words are bold and clear, pointing to the Resurrection as the ultimate proof of God’s love and power. This passage captures the excitement and conviction of the early Christian community, which had just experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. In the Gospel, we see the immediate aftermath of the Resurrection. The women, filled with a mix of fear and joy, encounter the risen Jesus and are commissioned to spread the news to the disciples. Meanwhile, the guards and religious leaders attempt to cover up the truth by bribing the soldiers to spread a false story. This contrast between the women’s faith and the leaders’ deceit highlights the ongoing struggle between light and darkness, truth and lies. The Resurrection is not just an event; it is a call to trust in God’s plan, even when the world around us seems determined to obscure it. These readings remind us that we, too, are called to live as witnesses to the Resurrection. Like Peter, we must be bold in sharing the truth of Christ, even in the face of opposition. Like the women, we must allow our hearts to be filled with joy and trust, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. In a world that often tries to diminish or deny the power of God, we are called to stand firm in our faith. Let us embrace the hope of the Resurrection and allow it to transform our lives, so that we may bear witness to the love and truth of God in all we do.