EASTER SATURDAY - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

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

ACTS 4:13-21 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Of course, the rulers, elders, and scribes were astonished at the assurance shown by Peter and John because all they saw were uneducated, rough men whom they recognized as Your disciples. What they did not know was that they had received the fullness of the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, and were filled with His gifts. Their courage, boldness, and wisdom came from God Himself making them powerful witnesses to the Good News that saves. 

When we stand before the world in the Name of Truth we are unconquerable. The cripple now cured stood before them as irrefutable proof of the miracle that had been performed by the power of Your Name. They thought that after they had killed You they could return to their old hypocritical way of living blissfully ignorant that a seismic shift had taken place.  The power of God and the Spirit of God is visible in Peter and John, power from above. Power given to them by the Son of God. They were nonplussed, ‘What are we going to do with these men? It is obvious to everybody in Jerusalem that a miracle has been worked through them in public, and we cannot deny it.’ The only temporary solution was to caution the disciples never to speak to anyone in this Name again.’ We can see how that worked for them 2000 plus years since then.

PSALM 117(118):1,14-21 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Thank You for speaking to my heart at Holy Mass this morning through the responsorial psalm: 'I will thank you, Lord, for you have given answer.'

I sing with the psalmist affirming that You O Lord are good, Your love has no end. You O Lord are my strength, my joy, my song - You are my Savior.

Thank You for the triumph and victory You won on the Cross by embracing all the suffering leading up to Your Crucifixion. 

How prophetically the psalmist praises God for all He has done for us in You, Beloved, long before the glorious hour of Your victory over Death, Satan, and Sin.

Through the Sacraments and the power given to me by the Holy Spirit, I can desire holiness and strive to be holy just as my Father in heaven is holy.  Thank You, Beloved for the assurance that at the end of life's journey, it will please You to lead me to the place that has been prepared for me eternally.

MARK 16:9-15 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

You could never ever be accused of being politically correct. Mark, the evangelist tells us that You first appeared to Mary of Magdala from You had cast out seven devils. In our world, such a woman would be condemned ad infinitum ad nauseam and her spiritual malady would have been a source of juicy gossip. Hypocrites would have a field day with her past. But with You, my Lord and my God there is always great mercy, tenderness, compassion, and infinite love. Once we are forgiven all our sins are forgotten - to You O Lord it is as if we had never sinned. It is to her that You choose to appear before the others and until time shall cease she will be remembered for this great privilege accorded to her.

Even though the disciples were mourning and in tears yet they refused to believe the woman's testimony that You were alive and that she had seen You. St. Mark tells us that You appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and the to the Eleven who were cowering in fear of the Romans and the Jews. You reproached them for their lack of faith. How often my Soul's Beloved I am just like they. How often must I be reproached for my own lack of faith even though my entire past is a testament to Your faithfulness and Your love?

The mandate given to the Apostles is given to every disciple who is grafted to Your Body in baptism, I am commanded to ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation.’ No ifs and buts. My whole life must spread the fragrance of Your unfathomable love for us that while we were yet sinners, God chose to die for us. Dying You destroyed our death, rising You restored our life. Come, Lord Jesus, in glory. Maranatha!