THURSDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2026

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

‘You believe, Thomas, because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe. JN 20:29

ACTS 5:27-33

My Soul's Beloved,

Over and over again, we see how the godless begin to rage with murderous hate when they are confronted with irrefutable Truth against which they have absolutely no defence. So how do they counteract it? By plotting to kill, to destroy, to murder, and by doing so, they stupidly and ignorantly think that they can win. Not so.  As we see over and over again in the Gospels and all through the history of the Church. Christians have been massacred in every culture, in every age, in every nation. Those within the Church have tried destroying it, and those outside plot ceaselessly to do so. Those with worldly power cling to it with the tenacity of a rabid bulldog and will ruthlessly destroy anyone or anything in its wake to possess the transient things of this world.

The Sanhedrin, over and over again, has revealed the template of those in high places, who overstep their authority and, with impunity, can kill, maim, and destroy anyone or anything that stands in their way. They forget that life will end for the most powerful, the richest, just as it will for the outcast, the forgotten, those whom life has trodden into the dust. All will stand before You, the righteous judge, and will have to give an account of how they used the precious and only life that we have on earth. After death comes judgment, and after judgment, eternal punishment or eternal reward. May God be merciful on those men and women in the world who are so blinded by all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—and this will result in their eternal downfall.

When the officials had brought the apostles in to face the Sanhedrin, the high priest demanded an explanation. ‘We gave you a formal warning’ he said ‘not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt of this man’s death on us.’ In reply Peter and the apostles said, ‘Obedience to God comes before obedience to men; it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel. We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’
This so infuriated them that they wanted to put them to death.

PSALM 33(34):2,9,17-20

This poor man called and the Lord heard him.

I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips;
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
He is happy who seeks refuge in him.

The Lord turns his eyes to the just
and his ears to their appeal.
They call and the Lord hears
and rescues them in all their distress.

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;
those whose spirit is crushed he will save.
Many are the trials of the just man
but from them all the Lord will rescue him.

This poor man called and the Lord heard him.

JOHN 3:31-36

My Soul's Beloved,

All too often, we see that religious leaders, parents, and spiritual guides and mentors can be stumbling blocks preventing people from believing and embracing the truth. Large numbers of people came daily to hear the precursor John the Baptist preach and teach as he prepared the way for You. People heard and were repentant. Their hearts were open to receive the message of hope that the long-awaited Messiah was already present among them. But as usual, the jealousy of those in power sought to thwart the message and looked for ways to rid themselves of the messenger of God.

So many dictators, rulers, despots, who are in positions of power, guard it 

jealously and ruthlessly, destroying anyone they perceive as a threat. This is the way it has been since the fall. Yes, Lord, we live in a redeemed world, and this is why we have hope. We look to You, O Lord, who has won the victory, and in the day of judgment which will come for each of us, we will have to give a strict account of our lives. While many will experience Your judgment tempered with mercy, many who crushed the poor, the marginalised, the innocent, the little ones, will receive Your pitiless judgment. ‘Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life, but anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will never see life: the anger of God stays on him.’

John the Baptist said to his disciples:
‘He who comes from above is above all others;
he who is born of the earth is earthly himself
and speaks in an earthly way.
He who comes from heaven
bears witness to the things he has seen and heard,
even if his testimony is not accepted;
though all who do accept his testimony
are attesting the truthfulness of God,
since he whom God has sent
speaks God’s own words:
God gives him the Spirit without reserve.
The Father loves the Son
and has entrusted everything to him.
Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life,
but anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will never see life:
the anger of God stays on him.’