Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 2, 2024
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 Christ. In the first reading from Acts, Peter’s sermon at Pentecost moves the hearts of the people, leading them to repentance and baptism. This moment marks a pivotal point in the early Church, as thousands embrace the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. The Gospel from John presents Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Jesus, where her grief turns to joy as she recognizes Him and becomes a witness to the resurrection.
Both readings highlight the profound impact of responding to God’s call. In Acts, the crowd’s response to Peter’s message leads to a collective conversion, illustrating the communal aspect of faith. In John’s account, Mary’s personal encounter with Jesus transforms her into a bearer of the Good News. These narratives show how faith can lead to action, whether through repentance and baptism or through sharing the message of Christ’s resurrection.
In our daily lives, these readings remind us to remain open to God’s presence and to trust in His plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Like Mary Magdalene, we may face moments of doubt or confusion, but it is through faith that we find clarity and purpose. The moral lesson here is the importance of trusting in God’s plan and being willing to act on our faith, whether through personal conversion or by sharing the Gospel with others. Let us embrace the transformative power of Christ’s presence in our lives, leading us to deeper conversion and a commitment to live as His disciples.