April 6, 2016

April 6

April 6, 2016:  Wednesday, 2nd week, Easter


  • 'Caged lion' pin:  Cage bars look like prison bars (1st reading)
  • 'Hand' tie pin:  Jealous Sadducees laid hands on the apostles and jailed them (1st reading)
  • 'Stone' tie pin:  The captain and officers didn't use force on the apostles because they were afraid of being stoned (1st reading)
  • 'Angel' pin:  The angel of the Lord (1st reading, psalm)
  • 'Eyeball' pin:  Look to the Lord and be radiant (psalm)
  • 'Phone' tie bar:  When the poor called, the Lord heard (psalm)
  • 'Hearts' tie:  God so loved the world... (gospel)
  • Red and white shirt:  red for Holy Spirit, white for Easter season
Listen

  • Angels/ Amy Grant (1st reading)
Pope Francis audience
God’s mercy is fulfilled in Jesus, mercy incarnate, who always made mercy visible: meeting crowds, announcing the Gospel, healing, drawing close to the forgotten, pardoning sinners.  He showed a love open to all, fulfilled on the cross.  His mercy mission began in humble surroundings at the Jordan, where he stood in line with sinners to be baptized by John.  The Father confirmed his mission at Jesus’ Baptism when he sent the Spirit upon him and said, “You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.”  We can contemplate this mystery by gazing upon the cross, where Jesus offered to the Father the sin of the world, our sins.  From there, he shows us no one is excluded from God’s merciful love:  “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”  Never be afraid to acknowledge and confess your sins; the sacrament of Reconciliation offers the forgiveness that flows from the cross and renews us in his grace.  Embrace the Gospel with greater vigor and be heralds of the Father’s mercy and forgiveness.
Read
  • Acts 5:17-26  The Sadducees jailed the Apostles, but an angel opened the prison doors and led them out.  They went to the temple and taught.  After the Sanhedrin sent for them, the officers returned to say, “We found the jail locked and the guards stationed, but no one inside,” then someone reported, “They're teaching at the temple.”  Then the officers brought them, but without force because they feared being stoned.
  • Ps 34:2-9  "The Lord hears the cry of the poor."  Glorify the Lord; he answered and delivered me.  Look to him and be radiant with joy; the angel of the Lord delivers those who fear him.  Taste and see how good the Lord is. 
  • Jn 3:16-21  God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so everyone who believes might have life.  God sent his Son to save, not condemn, the world.  The light came, but people preferred darkness; whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so their works may be seen as done in God.
Reflect
  • Creighton:  Doing evil results from choosing the darkness; doing good deeds leads you to the light.  We may avoid heavy evil, put part of our life may still be in darkness.  Being in the light is an ongoing commitment to good deeds.  May God grant us courage to be so committed and be in the light. 
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Living it up?"  Eternal life, for which we don't have to wait, is characterized by public witnessing for Jesus, preaching, teaching, serving God, living love, faith, and obedience.  We're fully alive only in Christ our Life....
    Liberación de San Pedro/ Murillo
    [more]
  • Passionist:  “I love you” and “I forgive you” go together.  “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers” (Ruth Bell Graham).  Jesus was sent to forgive.  On Calvary the apostles let him down, but he  forgave them.  They could proclaim reconciliation and God’s forgiveness because they experienced it.
  • DailyScripture.net:  "God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son":  True lovers hold nothing back from their beloved.  God proved his love for us by giving us his best, his only Son, who offered his life for us.  Abraham's sacrifice of his only son prefigured Jesus' offering; it showed a redemptive love that embraces the whole world, and a personal love for each person God created.  God can't rest till his children have returned to him.  God loves each of us as if there were only one of us to love (Augustine).  God gives us the freedom to choose whom and what we'll love.  We can love the darkness of sin and unbelief or we can love the light of God's truth, beauty, and goodness.  If our love is guided by what's true, good, and beautiful, we'll choose for God and love him above all....
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