Daily Readings - Tue Apr 02 2024
Acts
36Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."37Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"38And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."40And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."41So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
John
11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.12And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.13They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."14Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.15Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."16Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).17Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"--and that he had said these things to her.
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.