FRIDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

This day was made by the Lord:
we rejoice and are glad. PS 117:24

ACTS 4:1-12 © 

My Soul's Beloved,

Satan and the world are outraged by the power that those with faith in You possess. This is so clear in the time of the current pandemic. No other religious institution is faced with the

stringent restrictions and curbs that are put in various countries on the freedom of Christians to gather together and worship in their churches. Despite following all the protocols strictly the noose keeps getting tightened. 

The world is terrified of Christians who are faithful to You and Your Word. We are oblivious of the power we possess and can be unleashed when we are united in heart, mind, body, and spirit with the Triune God but Satan is not.

It is was no different from the fear of the rulers, elders, and scribes who plotted with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, Jonathan, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly families to stop the disciples from preaching the truth of Your resurrection from the dead. Many came to believe in You and in the Gospel so Peter and John were arrested and brought to trial before the Sanhedrin.  

When questioned about the miracle and asked, ‘By what power, and by whose name have you men done this?’ Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, repudiated them and boldly proclaimed that the Man they crucified was indeed the Son of God and was raised from the dead. He further testified that it was by Your Name that the cripple who stood before them was healed.  The very stone that they had rejected would prove their downfall because they refused to believe in the one whom God had sent. No one can hope for salvation except through one Name alone, Your Name, Jesus, by which all can be saved. 

PSALM 118:1-2,4,22-27 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The love of God made manifest in You, His Son is the Good News that reveals that the fear of death no longer has power over us. Death is defeated and in the place of fear we have faith that the love of God in You ensures that we who believe, will live eternally.

The Cornerstone of the Church You founded with Peter at its

head and the Apostles is rejected by many including Christians who are not members of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. But we who are born of her know how blessed we are, how privileged we are, and through no merit of ours. The Church is a true marvel. She lives and breathes and no one either from within or without can destroy her. 

May we not become complacent, Beloved. You have said very clearly to whom much is given much is asked. May we never tire of shedding Your Light in a world growing increasingly dark. We hold on to Your promise that You will be with us to the end of the age.

JOHN 21:1-14 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

With You, we will want for nothing. You give food to the

hungry and drink to the thirsty. When we toil without You our labor is in vain but with You, we can do all things. 

Days after the Resurrection and before Pentecost, Peter became restless and decided to go fishing. It was what he knew best and some of the others joined him. They were out on the sea of Tiberias the whole night and caught nothing. Their fishing expedition did nothing to boost their spirits.

It was dawn and they saw You on the shore, although they did

not realize it was You. I love the way You address them as You called out to them, 'Children, you have no fish, have you?' And they said, 'No' You then instruct them to cast their net to the right side of the boat. They did and the catch was so great they could not haul it in. It was then that John recognized You and said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' As soon as Peter knew it was You, he jumped into the water and swam to shore. 

You already had breakfast ready for them on a charcoal fire. There was fish on the fire and bread. You don't need anything we have yet You ask us to collaborate with You. You said to Peter, 'Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.' 

John tells us that there were 153 fish in all and yet the net did not tear. The net of the Church is large enough to hold the whole world in it without breaking.