THURSDAY,
2ND WEEK OF EASTER MASS READINGS AND COMMENTARY
DAILY GOSPEL AND COMMENTARY:
“WHOEVER BELIEVES IN THE SON HAS ETERNAL LIFE” Jn 3:31-36.
THURSDAY IN THE 2ND WEEK OF EASTER
MASS READINGS
READING I
Acts 5:27–33
When the court officers had brought the Apostles in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders did we not, to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the Apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Or: Alleluia.
I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Taste and see how good the Lord is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Or: Alleluia.
The Lord confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Or: Alleluia.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the Lord delivers him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Or: Alleluia.
ALLELUIA
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me; happy those who have not seen me, but still believe!
GOSPEL
Jn 3:31-36
The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
GOSPEL COMMENTARY
The Father loves the Son and has put everything in his hands. He who is worldly opposes Christ, who comes from heaven and testifies to what he has seen. He who believes in the Son has eternal life.
Faith must be defended despite the internal and external difficulties. Saint Augustine warns:
- “In former times Christians were incited to deny Christ; in our time they were taught to deny Christ. Then it was forced, now it is taught; then the enemy was heard roaring, now, he presents himself with insinuating meekness and prowling , making it difficult to take notice of him. It is known how Christians were then coerced to deny Christ, thereby tempting them so as to reject him; but they, confessing Christ, were crowned. Now they teach them to deny Christ with deceit, so as not to appear that they are being separated from Christ “(Commentary on Psalm 39).
- As a blind man who hears the footsteps of Christ passing by, I call him … but when I have begun to follow Christ, my relatives, neighbors and friends begin to enrage. Those who love the world stand before me: “Have you gone crazy? How extreme you are! Perhaps others are not Christians? This is nonsense. This is madness. “And such things the mob cry out so that we blindmen will no longer call the Lord” (Sermon 88).
Dear brethren, the above Gospel passage shows us Christ’s divinity, his relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and the share in God’s eternal life of those who believe in Jesus Christ. Outside of faith there is no life nor any room for hope.
VIDEO REFLECTION
TOPIC: DO WE PRACTICE OUR FAITH WITH FERVOR?
In today’s first reading, the apostles continued to defy the religious leaders. Brought to the Sandhedrin and ordered to stop their activities, after having been imprisoned twice, they boldly declare, ““We must obey God rather than men.”These were the same apostles who accompanied Jesus for three years teaching, preaching, healing. These were the same men who denied Jesus in His hour of passion. But they witnessed Jesus’ promise of resurrection come true and they were convinced. And imbued by the Holy Spirit with power, they have never turned back since then, proclaiming and healing for the sake of the Truth.Today, we reflect on our own attestation and practice of our faith. How strong do we defend this in the midst of so much falsity and despoliation being done by those who believe that God is just fiction? More importantly, how strongly do we live out our faith?
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