Acts 4:1-12, Psalm 118:1-2, 4m, 22-27a, John 21:1-14

EASTER OCTAVE





DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS
Acts 4:1-12, Psalm 118:1-2, 4m, 22-27a, John 21:1-14
http://www.bibleclaret.org/bibles/english.htm

Acts 4:1-12

Persecution only serves to spread the Good News and draw new believers. It is rightly said that the blood of martyrs is  the seed of Christians. Despite the arrest of the Apostles by the Sadducees many believed and their numbers swelled. The world could not kill the Messenger nor can they kill His Message although they have tried for over 2000 years.

The Name and the Holy Spirit are an unbeatable combination but we have to open our mouths and speak boldly and with courage the holy Name of Jesus and the Power of God in the Holy Spirit can bring the dead to life.  Jesus alone is the Author and Giver of life.  There is no name given to us by which we can be saved but by the Name of Jesus.  He is now the cornerstone of the Church built with living stones and whose foundation is the Rock, Peter and the Apostles.  It is Jesus, the Head who holds His Church and unites it to Himself and He will keep and preserve it until He will come again glory.

Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-27a

My Beloved, You are our Lord and our God!.  We walk in the light of Your love in the land of the living.  This is the day made by You - the day that never ends because You are alive and we rejoice and are glad.  Thank You Father for Your loving kindness that gave us so glorious a Redeemer.

John 21:1-14

If we labor in the dark, we labor without You and our efforts are fruitless.  However when there is even only a sliver of daylight in the dawn, Christ the Light of the world is present and everything becomes possible.

What love, what tenderness - these men who in time were older than You and who had all run away when You needed them most, You now lovingly address as children.  You will always guide us and instruct us if we are prepared to listen and obey.  We must do all things in alliance with You and Your will, only then will our labor be fruitful, abundantly fruitful.  John the beloved disciple was the first to recognize You but Peter who loved You more than the rest throws caution to the wind in his usual impetuous way, abandons all decorum and plunges into the water to be with His God.