Daily Readings - Mon Apr 01 2024
Acts
14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.25For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:26Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.28Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.29Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.30Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.32This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Matthew
8And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.9And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.10Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.11Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.12And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,13Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.14And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.15So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of God’s plan and the truth of the Resurrection. In the first reading from Acts, Peter stands before the crowd in Jerusalem and proclaims the good news of Jesus Christ. He reminds them that Jesus, though crucified, was raised by God, fulfilling the promises of Scripture. Peter’s words are bold and clear, pointing to the Resurrection as the ultimate proof of God’s love and power. This passage captures the excitement and conviction of the early Christian community, which had just experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
In the Gospel, we see the immediate aftermath of the Resurrection. The women, filled with a mix of fear and joy, encounter the risen Jesus and are commissioned to spread the news to the disciples. Meanwhile, the guards and religious leaders attempt to cover up the truth by bribing the soldiers to spread a false story. This contrast between the women’s faith and the leaders’ deceit highlights the ongoing struggle between light and darkness, truth and lies. The Resurrection is not just an event; it is a call to trust in God’s plan, even when the world around us seems determined to obscure it.
These readings remind us that we, too, are called to live as witnesses to the Resurrection. Like Peter, we must be bold in sharing the truth of Christ, even in the face of opposition. Like the women, we must allow our hearts to be filled with joy and trust, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. In a world that often tries to diminish or deny the power of God, we are called to stand firm in our faith. Let us embrace the hope of the Resurrection and allow it to transform our lives, so that we may bear witness to the love and truth of God in all we do.