Frederick, Maryland,
United States - Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Sunday, 27 April 2014 -
Catholic Meditations
Meditations: Acts 2:
42 They continued steadfastly in the
apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. 43
Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the
apostles. 44 All who believed were together, and had all things in common. 45
They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according
as anyone had need. 46 Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in
the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and
singleness of heart, 47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. The
Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.
2nd Sunday of Easter or
Sunday of Divine Mercy
Many wonders and signs
were done through the apostles. (Acts 2:43)
“Miracles.” What does
this word bring to mind for you? Spectacular healings? Multiplication of food?
Suspension of the laws of nature? Signs and wonders relegated to biblical
times? As Catholics, we have living proof that miracles are not things of the
past. Every time a new saint is canonized, we are reminded that miracles still
happen. We see in these saints evidence of God breaking into our world and
transforming people in concrete ways!
Today we celebrate the
canonization of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, two modern-day examples of
God’s power to perform miracles—and not just the physical healings that have
been attributed to their intercession. Who could deny the miracle of John XXIII
opening the Church to the modern world and speaking timeless truths in a new
way to a world that desperately needed it? Countless lives were changed around
the globe because of what he did. Countless people—unbelievers as well as
believers—stood in awe of how vital the Church is and how active a role it can
play in the world.
And who could not but
stand in awe of the largely bloodless way that the walls of communism came down
during the papacy of John Paul II? Or think of the lives that were touched when
they saw him forgive the assassin who tried to kill him. The world looked on in
amazement!
As we are inspired by
the lives of these two holy popes, we know there’s always more of God’s mercy.
Even now, two thousand years after Christ’s birth, we see just the beginnings
of how God wants to inspire awe in the world! So together let’s celebrate Sts.
John XXIII and John Paul II—and let’s keep expecting miracles!
“Thank you, Father, for
the lives of John Paul II and John XXIII. Thank you for touching the world
through their witness. May their lives continue to move people to love you as
they did.” Amen.
Psalm 118:2 Let Israel
now say
that his loving kindness endures forever.
3 Let the house of Aaron
now say
that his loving kindness endures forever.
4 Now let those who fear
Yahweh say
that his loving kindness endures forever.
13 You pushed me back
hard, to make me fall,
but Yahweh helped me.
14 Yah is my strength
and song.
He has become my salvation.
15 The voice of
rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous.
“The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly.
22 The stone which the
builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
23 This is Yahweh’s
doing.
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that
Yahweh has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it!
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy
became our father again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, 4 to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that
doesn’t fade away, reserved in Heaven for you, 5 who by the power of God are
guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6
Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you
have been put to grief in various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, which
is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may
be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus
Christ— 8 whom not having known you love; in whom, though now you don’t see
him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory—
9 receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
John 20:19 When
therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the
doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
20 When he had said
this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad
when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to
you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” 22 When he had said this,
he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! 23 If you
forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s
sins, they have been retained.”
24 But Thomas, one of
the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came. 25 The other
disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his
side, I will not believe.”
26 After eight days
again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the
doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.” 27
Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here
your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 Thomas answered him,
“My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him,
“Because you have seen me,[a] you have believed. Blessed are those who have not
seen, and have believed.”
30 Therefore Jesus did
many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in
this book; 31 but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
Footnotes:
a. John 20:29 TR adds
“Thomas,”
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Questions for Reflection
or Group Discussion:
(Acts 2: 42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles’
teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. 43 Fear came on
every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 All
who believed were together, and had all things in common. 45 They sold their
possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had
need. 46 Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and
breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of
heart, 47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to
the assembly day by day those who were being saved.
Psalm 118:2 Let Israel
now say
that his loving kindness endures forever.
3 Let the house of Aaron
now say
that his loving kindness endures forever.
4 Now let those who fear
Yahweh say
that his loving kindness endures forever.
13 You pushed me back
hard, to make me fall,
but Yahweh helped me.
14 Yah is my strength
and song.
He has become my salvation.
15 The voice of
rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous.
“The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly.
22 The stone which the
builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
23 This is Yahweh’s
doing.
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that
Yahweh has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it!
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy
became our father again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, 4 to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that
doesn’t fade away, reserved in Heaven for you, 5 who by the power of God are
guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6
Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you
have been put to grief in various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, which
is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may
be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus
Christ— 8 whom not having known you love; in whom, though now you don’t see
him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory—
9 receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
John 20:19 When
therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the
doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
20 When he had said
this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad
when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to
you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” 22 When he had said this,
he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! 23 If you
forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s
sins, they have been retained.”
24 But Thomas, one of
the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came. 25 The other
disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his
side, I will not believe.”
26 After eight days
again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the
doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.” 27
Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here
your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 Thomas answered him,
“My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him,
“Because you have seen me,[a] you have believed. Blessed are those who have not
seen, and have believed.”
30 Therefore Jesus did
many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in
this book; 31 but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
Footnotes:
a. John 20:29 TR adds
“Thomas,”)
1. In the first reading
from Acts we see the vibrancy of the early church, and as a result, “every day
the Lord added to their numbers those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). What
were some of the characteristics of the early church that caused it to attract
so many people? Which ones would really benefit the Church today, and what
steps can you take to help bring them into your local parish?
2. The message of the
responsorial psalm is one of hope and trust in the Lord, especially in times of
trouble. Why do you believe the psalmist was so filled with joy and confidence
that he could exclaim, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and
rejoice in it” (Psalm 118:24). What can you do to make this your disposition
each morning when you first wake up?
3. The second reading
from 1 Peter is also one of joy in the midst of trials and suffering. How would
you describe the basis of this joy for Christians? How often do you reflect on
these in your times of prayer or during the day? If you were to increase these
times of reflection, what impact would it have on how you lived out your day?
What simple steps can you take to cause this to happen?
4. The Gospel reading
contrasts the joy of the disciples when they “saw the Lord” with the doubts of
the apostle Thomas. After appearing to Thomas, Jesus goes on to say that,
“Blessed are those who have not seen and believe” (John 20:29). In what way has
the risen Lord revealed the truth of who he is to you so that you are able to
say, “My Lord and my God”?
5. The meditation opens
with these words: “’Miracles.’ What does this word bring to mind for you?” How
would you answer this question?
6. The meditation goes
on to say that “Every time a new saint is canonized, we are reminded that
miracles still happen.” What does this mean to you? How does it apply to the
canonization of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II?
7. Take some time now to
pray and thank the Lord for the witness that John XXIII and John Paul II are to
the Church and to the whole world. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation
as the starting point.
“Thank you, Father, for
the lives of John Paul II and John XXIII. Thank you for touching the world
through their witness. May their lives continue to move people to love you as
they did.” Amen.
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