Daily Readings - Mon Apr 13 2020

¹⁴But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.²²"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know--²³this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.²⁴God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.²⁵For David says concerning him, "'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;²⁶therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope.²⁷For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.²⁸You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'²⁹"Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.³⁰Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,³¹he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.³²This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.³³Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

Matthew

Chapter 28

⁸So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.⁹And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."¹¹While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.¹²And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers¹³and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.'¹⁴And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."¹⁵So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives centered on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The first reading from Acts captures Peter's impassioned speech, where he connects the resurrection to the fulfillment of God's plan and David's prophecy. This moment in the early church highlights the apostle's role in proclaiming the Gospel, emphasizing that Jesus's resurrection was not an accident but a divine act. The second reading from Matthew vividly describes the immediate aftermath of the resurrection, focusing on the women's joy and the guards' bribery to conceal the truth. This narrative underscores the tension between the truth of the resurrection and the attempts to suppress it. Both readings are set in the context of the post-resurrection era, each offering a unique perspective. Acts is situated in the early days of the church, where Peter addresses a Jewish audience, linking Jesus to their scriptural heritage. Matthew's account is more immediate, detailing the events right after the resurrection and the ensuing cover-up. These narratives connect thematically through their focus on the resurrection's impact and the spread of the Gospel despite opposition. Reflecting on these readings, we are reminded of the hope and courage the resurrection brings. Just as the early disciples faced challenges with faith, we too can confront life's struggles with trust in God's plan. The readings encourage us to embrace our role as witnesses, spreading the Good News even in the face of adversity. The moral lesson here is one of trust and testimony: trust in God's plan and the courage to share our faith, knowing that truth ultimately prevails. Let us, like the early disciples, find the strength to proclaim the risen Christ in our lives.