WEDNESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son:
everyone who believes in him has eternal life. JN 3:16

ACTS 5:17-26 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The greatest sins are prompted by jealousy. It was jealousy of Your power and growing popularity with the people that were the catalyst for the members of the Sanhedrin to manipulate Pilate into ordering Your death by crucifixion. 

Jealousy again is the motivating factor behind the arrest and imprisonment of Peter and John. Ever since the Church, at Your command, has gone out into the world to preach and teach the Good News, the envy and jealousy of those with authority and power have sought to muzzle her even going to the lengths of committing murder in order to silence her voice but all to no avail. 

You will send Your angels to comfort, console, and set free those who work to establish Your Kingdom on earth. Just as You sent an angel to free Peter and John who were chained and imprisoned. The angel did not advise them to escape but to go back to the public square and continue the work they were commissioned to do. 

The high priest intervened with all his supporters from the party of the Sadducees. Prompted by jealousy, they arrested the apostles and had them put in the common gaol.

But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison gates and said as he led them out, ‘Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new Life.’ They did as they were told; they went into the Temple at dawn and began to preach.

When the high priest arrived, he and his supporters convened the Sanhedrin – this was the full Senate of Israel – and sent to the gaol for them to be brought. But when the officials arrived at the prison they found they were not inside, so they went back and reported, ‘We found the gaol securely locked and the warders on duty at the gates, but when we unlocked the door we found no one inside.’ When the captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard this news they wondered what this could mean. Then a man arrived with fresh news. ‘At this very moment’ he said, ‘the men you imprisoned are in the Temple. They are standing there preaching to the people.’ The captain went with his men and fetched them. They were afraid to use force in case the people stoned them.