Daily Readings - Sat Apr 27 2019
Acts
13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.16"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."21After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.
Mark
9When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.10She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping.11When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.12Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.13These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.14Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith and the call to share the Good News, even in the face of adversity. In the first reading from Acts, Peter and John stand before the Sanhedrin, unwavering in their commitment to preach about Jesus, despite the threats they receive. Their courage is rooted in their encounter with the risen Christ, and they cannot help but speak of what they have seen and heard. Similarly, in the Gospel from Mark, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and the two disciples, and though they are met with disbelief at first, the truth of the resurrection eventually prevails. These accounts remind us that the message of Christ is not one that can be silenced or contained.
The context of these readings is crucial. For the early Christian community, the resurrection of Jesus was not just an event but a transformative experience that compelled them to share the Gospel with the world. Peter and John, though uneducated, were empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak boldly about their faith. In Mark’s Gospel, the disbelief of the disciples highlights the human struggle to accept the extraordinary truth of the resurrection, but ultimately, Jesus commissions them to go forth and preach to all creation. These stories remind us that faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting in God’s plan and being obedient to His will.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine our own commitment to sharing the Gospel. Like Peter and John, we may face situations where we are called to stand firm in our beliefs, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular. Like the disciples, we may struggle with doubt or fear, but Jesus calls us to move beyond those limitations and trust in His power. The moral lesson here is clear: our faith must be lived out in action, and we are called to be witnesses of Christ’s love and truth to a world in need. Let us ask for the courage and grace to be faithful disciples, trusting that God will use us to bring light and hope to those around us.