OCTAVE OF EASTER, SATURDAY
Psalter: Proper / (White)
Ps 118:1 & 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
1st Reading: Acts 4:13-21
They were astonished at the boldness of Peter and John, considering that they were uneducated and untrained men. They recognized, also, that they had been with Jesus, but, as the man who had been cured stood beside them, they could make no reply.
So they ordered them to leave the council room while they consulted with one another. They asked, “What shall we do with these men? Everyone who lives in Jerusalem knows, that a remarkable sign has been given through them, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them never again to speak to anyone in the name of Jesus.” So they called them back and charged them not to speak, or teach at all, in the name of Jesus.
But Peter and John answered them, “Judge for yourselves, whether it is right in God’s eyes, for us to obey you, rather than God. We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Then the council threatened them once more and let them go. They could find no way of punishing them because of the people, who glorified God for what had happened.
Gospel: Mk 16:9-15
After Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary of Magdala, from whom he had driven out seven demons. She went and reported the news to his followers, who were now mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he lived, and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
After this he showed himself in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. These men also went back and told the others, but they did not believe them.
Later Jesus showed himself to the Eleven while they were at table. He reproached them for their unbelief, and hardness of heart, in refusing to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
Then he told them, “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation."
REFLECTION:
The resurrection appearances were many and varied. A mystery such as these need multiple languages to convey a part of its truth. And the Lord understands the limitation of the human mind. It can only take so much. And so, ever respectful of human conditions, the Lord made multiple appearances to His disciples to assure them of the fact of His resurrection. This therefore brought us to question our respect for human nature. Some have such negative evaluation of it to the point that they espouse extreme forms of belief that harshly judge the human in a negative way. And if they seek religious legitimacy of their distorted view the stance becomes hardened.
The Lord in His resurrection reminds us the wonderful and amazing reality and possibilities of being human. This is what He assumed and transformed in His incarnation and resurrection. If we can see the fact that even God deign it worthy to become human Himself, then perhaps we could show more respect and love to our fellow human being here on earth.
Daily Reflection
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Readings and Reflections
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