Daily Readings - Tue Apr 23 2019
Acts
36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
John
11But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,12And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.13And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.15Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of faith and the call to conversion. In the first reading from Acts, Peter’s bold proclamation to the crowd after Pentecost leads to a profound moment of repentance. The people, struck by the truth of Jesus’ identity as Lord and Messiah, ask, “What shall we do?” Peter’s response is clear: repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit. This moment marks the beginning of the Church, as three thousand souls embrace the faith. The reading reminds us that faith is not passive but active—it calls us to conversion and a new way of life.
The Gospel from John presents a deeply personal and emotional encounter between Mary Magdalene and the risen Jesus. Mary, grief-stricken and searching for the body of Jesus, is met with the surprising presence of the angels and then Jesus himself. Her tears of sorrow turn to tears of joy as she recognizes the Lord. Jesus’ instruction to her, “Do not cling to me,” is not a dismissal but a commission. He sends her to the disciples with the news of his resurrection, making her the first evangelist. This passage highlights the intimacy of God’s love and the call to share that love with others.
Both readings point to the universal call to conversion and the mission of spreading the Good News. Like the crowd in Acts, we are called to turn away from sin and embrace the gift of new life in Christ. Like Mary Magdalene, we are called to encounter Jesus personally and then share that encounter with others. In our daily lives, this means being open to moments of grace, seeking repentance when we fall short, and living as witnesses to the resurrection. May we, like Mary, joyfully proclaim, “I have seen the Lord!” and may we, like Peter, invite others to experience the transformative power of faith.