Saturday in the Octave of Easter
Lectionary: 266
Lectionary: 266
Observing the boldness of Peter and John
and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men,
the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed,
and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.
Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them,
they could say nothing in reply.
So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin,
and conferred with one another, saying,
“What are we to do with these men?
Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign
was done through them, and we cannot deny it.
But so that it may not be spread any further among the people,
let us give them a stern warning
never again to speak to anyone in this name.”
So they called them back
and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Peter and John, however, said to them in reply,
“Whether it is right in the sight of God
for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges.
It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
After threatening them further,
they released them,
finding no way to punish them,
on account of the people who were all praising God
for what had happened.
and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men,
the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed,
and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.
Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them,
they could say nothing in reply.
So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin,
and conferred with one another, saying,
“What are we to do with these men?
Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign
was done through them, and we cannot deny it.
But so that it may not be spread any further among the people,
let us give them a stern warning
never again to speak to anyone in this name.”
So they called them back
and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Peter and John, however, said to them in reply,
“Whether it is right in the sight of God
for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges.
It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
After threatening them further,
they released them,
finding no way to punish them,
on account of the people who were all praising God
for what had happened.
Responsorial
Psalm PS 118:1 AND 14-15AB,
16-18, 19-21
R. (21a) I will
give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD has struck with power.”
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.
Though the LORD has indeed chastised me,
yet he has not delivered me to death.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD has struck with power.”
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.
Though the LORD has indeed chastised me,
yet he has not delivered me to death.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
AlleluiaPS 118:24
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MK 16:9-15
When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,
he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
out of whom he had driven seven demons.
She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that he was alive
and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
After this he appeared in another form
to two of them walking along on their way to the country.
They returned and told the others;
but they did not believe them either.
But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them
and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart
because they had not believed those
who saw him after he had been raised.
He said to them, “Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
out of whom he had driven seven demons.
She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that he was alive
and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
After this he appeared in another form
to two of them walking along on their way to the country.
They returned and told the others;
but they did not believe them either.
But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them
and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart
because they had not believed those
who saw him after he had been raised.
He said to them, “Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
Meditation: "Go and preach the
Gospel to the whole creation"
Do you believe the Lord Jesus is truly alive and ready
to make his presence known to everyone who believes in him? The
first to see the risen Lord was not Peter or one of the apostles, but a woman
noted for her demonized living! She had been forgiven much, and loved her
Master greatly. She was first at the tomb to pay her respects. Unfortunately
for the disciples, they would not believe her account of the Risen Master.
Jesus had to scold his apostles because of their unbelief and stubborn hearts.
The Holy Spirit makes our faith in Jesus Christ come
alive
Are you like the apostles or like Mary - slow to believe or quick to run to Jesus? Do you doubt because you do not see? The Lord makes his presence known to us through the work and power of the Holy Spirit. He gives us the gift of faith to know him personally and to understand the mystery of his death and rising. Do you believe his word and do you listen to his voice?
Are you like the apostles or like Mary - slow to believe or quick to run to Jesus? Do you doubt because you do not see? The Lord makes his presence known to us through the work and power of the Holy Spirit. He gives us the gift of faith to know him personally and to understand the mystery of his death and rising. Do you believe his word and do you listen to his voice?
We are Christ's ambassadors and witnesses of his
victory over sin and death
After his appearance to his beloved apostles, Jesus commissions them to go and preach the Gospel to the whole creation. Their task is to proclaim the good news of salvation, not only to the people of Israel but to all the nations. This is the great commission which the risen Christ gives to the whole church. All believers have been given a share in this task - to be heralds of the good news and ambassadors for Jesus Christ, the only savior of the world. We have not been left alone in this task, for the risen Lord works in and through us by the power of his Holy Spirit. Do you witness to others the joy of the Gospel and the hope of the resurrection?
After his appearance to his beloved apostles, Jesus commissions them to go and preach the Gospel to the whole creation. Their task is to proclaim the good news of salvation, not only to the people of Israel but to all the nations. This is the great commission which the risen Christ gives to the whole church. All believers have been given a share in this task - to be heralds of the good news and ambassadors for Jesus Christ, the only savior of the world. We have not been left alone in this task, for the risen Lord works in and through us by the power of his Holy Spirit. Do you witness to others the joy of the Gospel and the hope of the resurrection?
"Lord Jesus Christ, increase my faith and hope in
the power of your resurrection. And give me joy and courage to be your witness
to others and to boldly speak of what you have done to save us from sin and
death."
A Daily Quote for Easter Week: The Great Commission, by Augustine of
Hippo, 430-543 A.D.
"The command to the apostles to be witnesses to
him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the uttermost parts of the earth
was not addressed exclusively to those to whom it was immediately spoken. They
alone would not be the only ones who would carry such an enormous task to
completion. Similarly he seems to be speaking to the apostles very personally
when he says: "Behold I am with you even to the end of the world,"
yet who does not know that he made this promise to the universal church which
will last from now even to the consummation of the world by successive births
and deaths?" (excerpt from Letter 199, To
Hesychius 49)
SATURDAY,
APRIL 7, MARK 16:9-15
Saturday within the Octave of Easter
(Acts 4:13-21; Psalm 118)
Saturday within the Octave of Easter
(Acts 4:13-21; Psalm 118)
KEY VERSE: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature" (v 15).
TO KNOW: This section of Mark's Gospel (verses 9-20) is termed the "Longer Ending." It is believed that this material was added later from other traditions to complete what was thought to be an abrupt ending to Mark's gospel at the empty tomb. But Mark's purpose in writing was complete; Jesus was raised from the dead just as he told his followers. Mark's message was a warning to the Christian community to be fearless in announcing the gospel of Jesus. The longer version includes Christ's appearance to Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:1-18), and to two disciples on a country road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-24). The disciples did not believe any of these witnesses, and later, when they "were at table" (v 14, Eucharist), the Lord appeared and rebuked them for their unbelief. Jesus then commissioned his followers to go into the world and proclaim the message of salvation to everyone. Mark’s original ending leaves his readers to “complete” his Gospel by the way they live their lives.
TO LOVE: Have I the courage to share the good news with those who do not believe?
TO SERVE: Risen Lord, help me to believe that you are with us always.
Saturday 7 April
2018
Easter Saturday.
Acts 4:13-21. Psalm 117(118):1, 14-21. Mark 16:9-15.
I praise you, Lord, for you have answered me—Psalm 117(118):1,
14-21.
The Good News of the Spirit is at work.
We see three groups of people all at a loss and unable to
believe the good news that Jesus was alive. Even when he stood among them their
eyes were closed. It is precisely when worry, sorrow and affliction weigh
heavily that we are most in need of Jesus’ ability to restore us to hope. When
driven to despair Jesus draws us to himself.
In today’s Gospel, the saving power of Jesus is at work in the
disciples’ moment of weakness. It is then that he gives them their mission: ‘Go
into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.’ Amidst
their tears, confusion, and stubbornness, the disciples hear Jesus sending them
out beyond their self-preoccupations. He is the good news we need to hear.
Saint John Baptist de la Salle
Saint of the Day for April 7
(April 30, 1651 – April 7, 1719)
 |
| Statue of St. John Baptist de la Salle | Saint Peter Basilica, Rome | photo by Jordiferrer |
Saint John Baptist de la Salle’s Story
Complete dedication to what he saw as God’s will for him
dominated the life of John Baptist de la Salle. In 1950, Pope Pius XII named
him patron of schoolteachers for his efforts in upgrading school instruction.
As a young 17th-century Frenchman, John had everything going for him: scholarly
bent, good looks, noble family background, money, refined upbringing. At the
early age of 11, he received the tonsure and started preparation for the
priesthood, to which he was ordained at 27. He seemed assured then of a life of
dignified ease and a high position in the Church.
But God had other plans for John, which were gradually revealed
to him in the next several years. During a chance meeting with Monsieur Nyel,
he became interested in the creation of schools for poor boys in Raven, where
he was stationed. Though the work was extremely distasteful to him at first, he
became more involved in working with the deprived youths.
Once convinced that this was his divinely appointed mission,
John threw himself wholeheartedly into the work, left home and family,
abandoned his position as canon at Rheims, gave away his fortune, and reduced
himself to the level of the poor to whom he devoted his entire life.
The remainder of his life was closely entwined with the
community of religious men he founded, the Brothers of the Christian School
(Christian Brothers or De La Salle Brothers). This community grew rapidly and
was successful in educating boys of poor families, using methods designed by John.
It prepared teachers in the first training college for teachers and also set up
homes and schools for young delinquents of wealthy families. The motivating
element in all these endeavors was the desire to become a good Christian.
Yet even in his success, John did not escape experiencing many
trials: heart-rending disappointment and defections among his
disciples, bitter opposition from the secular schoolmasters who resented
his new and fruitful methods, and persistent opposition from the Jansenists of his
time, whose moral rigidity and pessimism about the human condition John
resisted vehemently all his life.
Afflicted with asthma and rheumatism in his last years, he died
at 68 on Good Friday, and was canonized in 1900.
Reflection
Complete dedication to one’s calling by God, whatever it may be,
is a rare quality. Jesus asks us to “love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, with all your
mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30b, emphasis
added). Paul gives similar advice: “Whatever you do, do from the heart…”
(Colossians 3:23).
Saint John Baptist de la Salle is the Patron Saint of:
Teachers
LECTIO DIVINA: MARK 16,9-15
Lectio Divina:
Saturday, April 7, 2018
Easter Time
1) OPENING PRAYER
Our God and Father,
Your Son Jesus lived among us,
flesh of our flesh, blood of our blood.
Your Son Jesus lived among us,
flesh of our flesh, blood of our blood.
He died for our sake
and You raised Him back to life.
May we experience His love and His presence
to such an extent
that we can never stop proclaiming
what we have seen and heard,
and that people may give glory to You, our God.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
and You raised Him back to life.
May we experience His love and His presence
to such an extent
that we can never stop proclaiming
what we have seen and heard,
and that people may give glory to You, our God.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
2) GOSPEL READING - MARK
16:9-15
When Jesus had risen, early on the first
day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven
seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not
believe. After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on
their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not
believe them either. But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to
them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had
not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, “Go
into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
3) REFLECTION
• Today’s Gospel is part of a broader
literary unit (Mk 16:9-20) which presents a list or summary of diverse
apparitions of Jesus: (a) Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, but the disciples do
not accept her testimony (Mk 16:9-11); (b) Jesus appears to the disciples, but
the others do not accept their testimony (Mk 16:12-13); (c) Jesus appears to
the eleven; He criticizes their lack of faith and orders them to announce the
Good News to all (Mk 16:14-18); (d) Jesus ascends to heaven and continues to
cooperate with the disciples (Mk 16:19-20).
• Besides this list of apparitions in the Gospel of Mark, there are other lists of apparitions which do not always coincide among themselves. For example, the list kept by Paul in the Letter to the Corinthians is very different (1 Cor 15:3-8). This variety shows that at the beginning the Christians were not concerned with proving the Resurrection by means of the apparitions. For them faith in the Resurrection was so evident and alive that there was no need to prove it. A person sunbathing on the shore is not concerned with showing that the sun exists, because she herself, sun burnt, is the evidence of the existence of the sun. The communities, existing in the midst of the immense Empire, were a living proof of the Resurrection. The list of the apparitions began to appear later, in the second generation, in order to refute the criticism of opponents.
• Mark 16:9-11: Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, but the other disciples do not believe her. Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene. She goes to announce this to the others. To come into the world, God wanted to depend on the womb of a young girl 15 or 16 years old, called Mary of Nazareth (Lk 1:38). To be recognized alive in our midst, He wants to depend on the announcement of a woman who had been liberated from seven devils, also called Mary, of Magdala! (This is why she was called Mary Magdalene). But the others did not believe her. Mark says that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene. In the list of apparitions, recorded in the letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 15:3-8), the apparitions of Jesus to the women are not mentioned. The first Christians had difficulty believing in the testimony of women. It is shameful!
• Mark 16:12-13: Jesus appears to the disciples, but the others do not believe them. Without too many details, Mark refers to an apparition of Jesus to two disciples, “while they were on their way into the country.” This is perhaps a reference to the apparition of Jesus to the disciples at Emmaus, narrated by Luke (Lk 24:13-35). Mark insists on saying that “the others did not believe them either”.
• Mark 16:14-15: Jesus criticizes the unbelief and orders them to announce the Good News to all creatures. For this reason, Jesus appears to the eleven and reproaches them because they did not believe the people who had seen Him in His resurrected body. Once again, Mark refers to the resistance of the disciples in refusing to believe the testimony of those who have experienced the Resurrection of Jesus. Why? Probably to teach three things: in the first place, that faith in Jesus passes through the faith in the people who give witness; in the second place, that nobody should be discouraged when doubt or unbelief arises in the heart; in the third place, to refute the claim of those who said that the Christian is naïve and accepts any news uncritically, because the eleven had great difficulty accepting the truth of the Resurrection!
• Today’s Gospel ends with the sending forth: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Gospel to all creation!” Jesus confers upon them the mission to announce the Good News to all creatures.
• Besides this list of apparitions in the Gospel of Mark, there are other lists of apparitions which do not always coincide among themselves. For example, the list kept by Paul in the Letter to the Corinthians is very different (1 Cor 15:3-8). This variety shows that at the beginning the Christians were not concerned with proving the Resurrection by means of the apparitions. For them faith in the Resurrection was so evident and alive that there was no need to prove it. A person sunbathing on the shore is not concerned with showing that the sun exists, because she herself, sun burnt, is the evidence of the existence of the sun. The communities, existing in the midst of the immense Empire, were a living proof of the Resurrection. The list of the apparitions began to appear later, in the second generation, in order to refute the criticism of opponents.
• Mark 16:9-11: Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, but the other disciples do not believe her. Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene. She goes to announce this to the others. To come into the world, God wanted to depend on the womb of a young girl 15 or 16 years old, called Mary of Nazareth (Lk 1:38). To be recognized alive in our midst, He wants to depend on the announcement of a woman who had been liberated from seven devils, also called Mary, of Magdala! (This is why she was called Mary Magdalene). But the others did not believe her. Mark says that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene. In the list of apparitions, recorded in the letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 15:3-8), the apparitions of Jesus to the women are not mentioned. The first Christians had difficulty believing in the testimony of women. It is shameful!
• Mark 16:12-13: Jesus appears to the disciples, but the others do not believe them. Without too many details, Mark refers to an apparition of Jesus to two disciples, “while they were on their way into the country.” This is perhaps a reference to the apparition of Jesus to the disciples at Emmaus, narrated by Luke (Lk 24:13-35). Mark insists on saying that “the others did not believe them either”.
• Mark 16:14-15: Jesus criticizes the unbelief and orders them to announce the Good News to all creatures. For this reason, Jesus appears to the eleven and reproaches them because they did not believe the people who had seen Him in His resurrected body. Once again, Mark refers to the resistance of the disciples in refusing to believe the testimony of those who have experienced the Resurrection of Jesus. Why? Probably to teach three things: in the first place, that faith in Jesus passes through the faith in the people who give witness; in the second place, that nobody should be discouraged when doubt or unbelief arises in the heart; in the third place, to refute the claim of those who said that the Christian is naïve and accepts any news uncritically, because the eleven had great difficulty accepting the truth of the Resurrection!
• Today’s Gospel ends with the sending forth: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Gospel to all creation!” Jesus confers upon them the mission to announce the Good News to all creatures.
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• Which of these: Mary Magdalene, the
two disciples of Emmaus, or the eleven disciples, had the greatest difficulty
believing in the Resurrection? Why? With whom do I identify?
• What can convince people of the presence of Jesus in our midst?
• What can convince people of the presence of Jesus in our midst?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
May God show kindness and bless
us,
and make His face shine on us.
Then the earth will acknowledge Your ways,
and all nations Your power to save. (Ps 67:1-2)
and make His face shine on us.
Then the earth will acknowledge Your ways,
and all nations Your power to save. (Ps 67:1-2)
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