Daily Readings - Mon Apr 18 2022
Acts
14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.22"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.25David said about him: "'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope,27because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.28You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'29"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.31Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
Matthew
8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.12When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,13telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.'14If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."15So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter the profound truth of the Resurrection and its transformative power. The first reading from Acts presents Peter’s bold declaration to the crowd in Jerusalem, explaining that Jesus’ death and resurrection were part of God’s divine plan. Peter emphasizes that Jesus, though crucified by human hands, was raised by God, fulfilling the promises of Scripture and breaking the bonds of death. This passage highlights the apostles’ newfound courage and clarity in preaching the Gospel after the Resurrection. The Gospel from Matthew, on the other hand, describes the immediate aftermath of the Resurrection. The women, filled with fear and joy, encounter the risen Jesus and are commissioned to tell the disciples the extraordinary news. Meanwhile, the guards, bribed by the religious leaders, spread a false narrative to discredit the Resurrection.
These readings are deeply connected, as both emphasize the reality and impact of the Resurrection. In Acts, Peter’s speech shows how the early Church interpreted the Resurrection as the fulfillment of God’s plan, giving them confidence to proclaim the Gospel. In Matthew, the Resurrection is portrayed as an unstoppable force, even in the face of human opposition. The women’s joy and the guards’ deception remind us that the Resurrection is not just a historical event but a living truth that challenges us to respond with faith or fear.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to the Resurrection. Like the women, we are called to embrace the joy and hope that come from knowing that death has been overcome. Like Peter, we are called to share this truth boldly, even when it is inconvenient or challenging. The Resurrection reminds us that God’s plan is always greater than human schemes, and that truth ultimately prevails over falsehood. Let us allow the power of the Resurrection to transform our lives, filling us with courage, hope, and a deep trust in God’s plan.