Daily Readings - Mon Apr 18 2022

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 the profound truth of the Resurrection and its transformative power. The first reading from Acts presents Peter’s bold declaration to the crowd in Jerusalem, explaining that Jesus’ death and resurrection were part of God’s divine plan. Peter emphasizes that Jesus, though crucified by human hands, was raised by God, fulfilling the promises of Scripture and breaking the bonds of death. This passage highlights the apostles’ newfound courage and clarity in preaching the Gospel after the Resurrection. The Gospel from Matthew, on the other hand, describes the immediate aftermath of the Resurrection. The women, filled with fear and joy, encounter the risen Jesus and are commissioned to tell the disciples the extraordinary news. Meanwhile, the guards, bribed by the religious leaders, spread a false narrative to discredit the Resurrection. These readings are deeply connected, as both emphasize the reality and impact of the Resurrection. In Acts, Peter’s speech shows how the early Church interpreted the Resurrection as the fulfillment of God’s plan, giving them confidence to proclaim the Gospel. In Matthew, the Resurrection is portrayed as an unstoppable force, even in the face of human opposition. The women’s joy and the guards’ deception remind us that the Resurrection is not just a historical event but a living truth that challenges us to respond with faith or fear. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to the Resurrection. Like the women, we are called to embrace the joy and hope that come from knowing that death has been overcome. Like Peter, we are called to share this truth boldly, even when it is inconvenient or challenging. The Resurrection reminds us that God’s plan is always greater than human schemes, and that truth ultimately prevails over falsehood. Let us allow the power of the Resurrection to transform our lives, filling us with courage, hope, and a deep trust in God’s plan.