Daily Readings - Sat Apr 10 2021
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 call to proclaim the Gospel with courage and faith, even in the face of challenges and doubts. In the first reading from Acts, we see Peter and John standing before the Sanhedrin, unwavering in their testimony of Jesus despite threats and intimidation. Their boldness is rooted in their encounter with the risen Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. The authorities, recognizing that they had been with Jesus, could not deny the miracle they had witnessed, yet they sought to silence them. Peter and John’s response is a testament to their faith: they cannot help but speak of what they have seen and heard.
In the Gospel, Mark recounts the appearances of the risen Jesus to Mary Magdalene and the disciples. Despite the overwhelming evidence of His resurrection, the disciples struggle with disbelief. Jesus, however, does not abandon them in their doubt. Instead, He commissions them to “go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” This mission is not reserved for the perfect or the fully understanding; it is entrusted to those who, like the disciples, are still grappling with the mystery of faith. The Gospel, in essence, is not just a message for the early Church but a call to all of us to share the good news of God’s love and redemption.
These readings remind us that faith is not about having all the answers or being free from doubt. It is about trusting in God’s plan and being willing to share His love with others, even when it is uncomfortable or challenging. Like Peter and John, we are called to be bold in our witness, and like the disciples, we are called to move beyond our fears and doubts to proclaim the Gospel. In our daily lives, this means living with integrity, sharing our faith with others, and trusting that God will work through us, even in our imperfections. Let us ask for the courage and grace to be faithful witnesses of the risen Christ in our world today.