Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Saturday in the Octave of Easter

LECTIONARY
266

FIRST READING

ACTS 4:13-21

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.

PSALM

PS 118:1 AND 14-15AB, 16-18, 19-21

Response: I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.

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.

“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.

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.

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.”

Daily Reflection

The call of every Christian is to bear witness to Christ. The readings make this amply clear: Peter and John, when ordered by the Sanhedrin not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, clearly state their mission as coming from God. It is pertinent to note the words they use to explain this... “It is IMPOSSIBLE FOR US not to speak about what we have seen or heard.”

Why is it impossible not to speak about Jesus? Because Jesus himself commands them to “proclaim the Gospel” to the whole world! But how are simple Galilean fishermen to proclaim something like the “Resurrection” to learned folk?

For God, anyone is good enough to be a witness. He chooses Mary Magdalene from whom Jesus “had cast out seven demons”, the two disciples “walking on their way to the country” and Peter and John who were “uneducated, ordinary men”. What matters to Him is your availability.

Feeling diffident about proclaiming Jesus? Just be available... HE will do the rest!