An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - April 21, 2024
“I Am The Good Shepherd, And I Know Mine and Mine Know Me”
The fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday. This is a time for us to ponder the great love that God has for us and the special
relationship we have with Jesus and with the Father through him. The greatest sign of God’s love is the gift of his son.
Our first reading (Acts of the Apostles 4:8-12) is a continuation of the events following the healing of the crippled man at the temple gate by Peter and John (Acts 3). Now they have been arrested by the Sadducees and brought before the Sanhedrin and questioned. Peter spoke boldly and with the authority given to him by Jesus as he proclaimed the resurrected Christ as the only source of salvation.
In our Epistle reading (1 John 3:1-2), St. John reminds us of our special relationship with the Father through Jesus. John speaks of the beatific vision when he proclaims that when “it (Christ) is revealed”, we shall be like him and we shall see him as he is.
In our Gospel reading (John 10:11-18), Jesus described himself as the Good Shepherd. He contrasted himself with the hired man, who runs away when the wolf comes because his sheep are not his. Jesus also proclaimed that he will gather “the other sheep” (the Gentiles) into one flock. The relationship between sheep and shepherd has always been a great metaphor for describing our relationship with our Lord (See Ezekiel 34). Notice the contrast between the Good Shepherd (Jesus, the great gatherer), the hired man (corrupt leaders of Israel) and the wolf (Satan, the great scatterer). We follow the one whose voice we know, the one who loves us and lays down his life for us.
Our readings today are about relationship - with Jesus and with our Father. Our first reading tells us it is through Jesus alone that we find salvation. He is the cornerstone of our lives. Our Epistle reminds us that we are God's children and God is our Father. In time, we will clearly see him as he is. Our Gospel reading describes Jesus as our Good Shepherd. He will gather us all into one flock, one Church. We know his voice and we follow him. He lays down his life for us.
www.bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042124.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - April 14, 2024
“He Opened Their Minds To Understand The Scriptures”
In this Third Sunday of Easter, our readings teach us that Jesus is the Messiah prophesied throughout all of the Hebrew Scriptures beginning with “the Law of
Moses, and in the prophets and psalms.” Peter proclaimed this in our first reading and Jesus himself "opened their minds" as He appeared to his disciples that first Easter Sunday night.
In our first reading (Acts of the Apostles 3:13-15, 17-19), St. Peter spoke to the crowd gathered just after he healed a crippled man at the "Beautiful Gate" of the temple. He proclaimed the risen Christ as the "suffering servant" that Isaiah and other prophets foretold long ago, raised up and glorified by the “God of our fathers.” He called them to repentance and conversion so that their “sins may be wiped away.”
In our Epistle reading (1 John 2:1-5), St. John calls us to repentance but offers comfort that when we do sin, Jesus the Advocate will intercede for us. He is “expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only, but for those of the whole world.” But “whoever keeps His word, the love of God is truly perfected in Him.”
In our Gospel reading (Luke 24:35-48), we hear St. Luke's telling of that first Easter Sunday night, when Jesus appeared to his apostles and disciples. The two disciples, who had been “on the road to Emmaus", have just told of their encounter with the risen Jesus and how they “recognized him in the breaking of the bread.” Then Jesus appeared to the apostles and others with them by saying “Peace be with you”. Consider what an awesome and glorious moment that must have been for his disciples. Jesus showed them that he is alive and not a ghost by showing His wounds and sharing a meal with them. Then He "opened their minds to understand the scriptures" .
Our readings today remind us that from the very beginning, it was God's plan that the Christ would suffer and die for the expiation of our sins and that we would be offered forgiveness and right relationship with the Father. St. John tells us that to know Jesus is to keep His commandments. May we know Jesus! May we always keep His commandments.
www.bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041424.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - April 7, 2024
"Peace Be With You. Even As The Father Has Sent Me, Even So, I Send You.”
This Sunday begins our liturgical Season of Easter. For the next fifty days until Pentecost Sunday, our first readings will be from the Acts of the Apostles,
as the Church helps us recall the birth of Christianity and the emerging Catholic (Universal) Church. Our Epistle readings are mostly from the First Letter of St. John which helps us better understand the person and divinity of Jesus and deepen our spiritual awareness of the Christian community. The Gospel readings are from the Gospel of John which helps us reflect on the appearances of the resurrected Jesus and his words to his disciples.
Our first reading (Acts 4:32-35) helps us see that the early church “was of one heart and mind” as they lived for the common good. The more fortunate among them would voluntarily share their wealth with those in need so there was “no needy person among them.”
Our Epistle reading (1 John 5:1-6) teaches us the importance of loving the Father and believing in the one whom He sent, Jesus, as well as living his commandments. The “water and blood” refer to Christ’s baptism and the shedding of his blood; it also points to our sacraments of Baptism and Holy Eucharist. The Holy Spirit was and is present in both events.
Our Gospel reading (John 10:19-31) is the story of the institution of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus appeared to the apostles in the locked room and at once eased their fears by telling them, “Peace be with you.” He showed them his hands and his side. His very first action since his resurrection was to breathe on them and give them the power to forgive sins. "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." We also hear of Jesus’ appearance to Thomas, who forever will be known as the “doubting and believing Thomas”. Here, Thomas offers one of the greatest professions of faith, “My Lord and my God.”
Today is also Divine Mercy Sunday, which calls our attention to the Mercy of God through the person of Jesus. The Divine Mercy image highlights the water and blood flowing from Jesus’ side which points to our sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. Our prayer, “Jesus, I trust in you” helps us know that Jesus is always with us, especially when we think he is not.
www.bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040724.cfm
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - March 31, 2024
Easter Sunday - The Resurrection of the Lord
“Do Not Be Amazed! He Has Been Raised; He Is Not Here.”
We have come to the climactic conclusion of our roller coaster Holy Week. First, Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, then
the loving example of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples at the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday ("As I have done, so you also must do.") Then on Good Friday, the abject sorrow of Jesus' passion and death on the cross and burial. And now, the incalculable joy as we learn that “He has been raised . . . He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you."
There are two distinct liturgies for our Easter celebration, each with its own selection of scripture readings:
The Vigil Mass on Saturday night features numerous Old Testament readings that highlight many of the key moments in salvation history beginning with the creation story (Genesis 1:1-2:2), "In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss . . . ." Then comes the story of God parting the Red Sea so the Israelites could escape their slavery in Egypt (Exodus 14:15 - 15:1), 'The Lord said to Moses, 'Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. And you, lift up your staff and, with hand outstretched over the sea, split the sea in two. . . .'" The next reading is the prophesy of the Prophet Isaiah near the end of the Israelite's exile in Babylon (Isaiah 55:1-11). Isaiah looks forward to the day of liberation, "All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk!"
In our Epistle reading (Romans 6:3-11), St. Paul teaches us that as we also died with Christ, so too, we will receive new life in Christ, "We are indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life."
In our Gospel reading (Mark 16:1-7), we hear Mark's account of the resurrection, as Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James found the stone rolled back and the tomb empty, "Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised. He is not here."
The Mass readings on Easter Sunday are shorter and focus more on Jesus' resurrection. The first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 10:34, 37-43) and is an excerpt of St. Peter's speech in Caesarea where he boldly proclaimed the risen Christ, "You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. . . They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, . . . He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name."
Our Gospel reading (John 20:1-9) is John's telling of the events on Easter morning.
"Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them . . .They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter . . .When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head . . .For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead."
On this glorious Easter Day, may we reflect on the words of Pope Saint John Paul II (Angelus - 1986): "We do not pretend that life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the Resurrection. And we live in the light of his Paschal Mystery - the mystery of his Death and Resurrection. 'We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!'"
God, grant that we may sing Alleluia with our lives all year long.
Read and reflect on the readings for Easter Vigil, Saturday, March 30 at: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033024.cfm
Read and reflect on the readings for Easter Sunday, March 31 at: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033124.cfm
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - December 25
“AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US”
Our readings for Christmas Mass at night draw a direct connection between what Isaiah prophesied more than 500
years before Christ was born and what took place that Christmas night when the prophesy was fulfilled in all its humble glory.
In our first reading (Isaiah 9:1-6), we hear the prophesy of Isaiah that is proclaimed every Christmas Eve night - God's own Son will come to deliver us. "For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David's throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.”
In our Epistle (Titus 2:11-14), St. Paul leads us to remember that Christ promised to come again and will deliver us from all lawlessness. Paul teaches us how to live while we await the return of Jesus our Savior. “The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ.”
Our Gospel reading (Luke 2:1-14) is the account of Jesus' humble birth as Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census of the house of David. The first to bear witness were the lowly shepherds from the surrounding hillsides.
The birth of the Jesus the Messiah was not just something that happened a long time ago. It was an event foretold for centuries and awaited fervently by the people of Israel. From the moment of Jesus' birth to his tragic death and triumphant resurrection, he was the embodiment of humility, patience, and love. It is how he calls us to live "temperately, justly and devoutly in this age as we await the blessed hope."
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122523-night.cfm
Click 'Read more' for the reflection on the Christmas Day readings.