OCTAVE EASTER, MONDAY
Psalter: Proper / (White)
Ps 16:1-2a & 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
1st Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-33*
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and, with a loud voice, addressed them, (…) Fellow Israelites, listen to what I am going to tell you about Jesus of Nazareth. God accredited him and through him did powerful deeds and wonders and signs in your midst, as you well know. You delivered him to sinners to be crucified and killed and, in this way, the purpose of God, from all times, was fulfilled. But God raised him to life and released him from the pain of death; because it was impossible for him to be held in the power of death. David spoke of him when he said: I saw the Lord before me at all times; he is by my side, that I may not be shaken. Therefore, my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; my body, too, will live in hope. Because you will not forsake me in the abode of the dead, nor allow your Holy One to experience corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life, and your presence will fill me with joy. (…)
This Messiah is Jesus; and we are all witnesses that God raised him to life. He has been exalted at God’s right side; and the Father has entrusted the Holy Spirit to him; this Spirit, he has just poured upon us, as you now see and hear.
Gospel: Mt 28:8-15
In fear, yet with great joy, the women left the tomb and ran to tell the news to his disciples.
Suddenly, Jesus met them on the way and said, “Rejoice!” The women approached him, embraced his feet and worshiped him. But Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid! Go and tell my brothers to set out for Galilee; there, they will see me.”
As the women proceeded on their way, some of the guards went into the city, and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests met with the elders, and decided to give the soldiers a large sum of money, with this order, “Say that his disciples came by night while you were asleep, and stole the body of Jesus. If Pilate comes to know of this, we will explain the situation and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers accepted the money and did as they were told. This story has circulated among the Jews until this day.
Reflections
KEEP ME SAFE O GOD, YOU ARE MY HOPE
This verse of the responsorial psalm is an ever-recurring petition in the psalms. The people of Israel had to undergo many trials and threats and even in their infidelities, making for themselves idols, they realized again and again that their surest security and the source of their hope was the God of their Fathers. In our lives too, we meet threats, physical or psychological. In our families, we experience insecurities regarding keeping our job, the sustenance of our families, protecting them from harm, being able to send our children to College, etc. It is of course understood that we try our best to work towards security but ultimately we have to rely on God. When everything seems to work against us, when our efforts seem to be fruitless, we need not despair because God has assured us of his love, care and compassion. We repeat with the Psalmist: KEEP ME SAFE O GOD, YOU ARE MY HOPE!
Daily Reflection 2018
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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
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