Daily Readings - Tue Apr 06 2021

³⁶"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."³⁷When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"³⁸Peter replied, "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.³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."⁴⁰With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."⁴¹Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

John

Chapter 20

¹¹but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb¹²and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.¹³They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"¹⁴"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.¹⁵"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."¹⁶Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).¹⁷Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"¹⁸Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of encountering God and the call to share this encounter with others. In the first reading from Acts, Peter’s sermon to the crowd after Pentecost leads to a profound conversion: three thousand people are baptized and join the early Christian community. This moment marks the beginning of the Church as we know it, and it underscores the power of faith and repentance. Peter’s words cut to the heart of the people, moving them to seek forgiveness and a new life in Christ. In the Gospel, we find Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb, weeping and searching for Jesus. Her encounter with the risen Lord is deeply personal and emotional. When Jesus reveals himself to her, she is filled with joy and immediately runs to share the news with the disciples. Mary’s story reminds us that our faith is not just about personal belief but about proclamation. Just as Mary was sent to tell the disciples, we too are called to share the Good News with others. Both readings highlight the connection between faith and action. Peter’s audience is moved to repentance and baptism, while Mary is sent forth as a witness to the resurrection. In our own lives, we are called to respond to God’s presence with openness and courage. Like Mary, we may face uncertainty and even grief, but through faith, we can find hope and purpose. Let us allow the power of the Holy Spirit to transform us, and let us be bold in sharing the love and joy of Christ with those around us.