Daily Readings for April 20, 2016

1ST READING

The Early Church was organized. They commissioned Barnabas and Saul to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. The missionary journeys of Paul were initiated. Perhaps Paul thought he had a lot of ground to cover due to his past life as a persecutor of the Church or perhaps he had an extraordinary amount of zeal for the Kingdom of God. Whatever the case, his life is an ideal example for anyone who desires to become a missionary.

Acts 12:24-13:5

24 The word of God continued to spread and grow. 25 After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission, they returned to Jerusalem, taking with them John, who is called Mark. 13:1 Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off. 4 So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.

P S A L M

Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R: O God, let all the nations praise you!

1 [2] May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. 2 [3] So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation. (R) 4 [5] May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide. (R) 5 [6] May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you! 7 [8] May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him! (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus affirms that He does what His Father asks Him to do. This obedience empowers His ministry. In Jesus’ statements, we can discern the doctrine of the unity of the Father and the Son. They want everyone to receive the gift of salvation and, hence, the Father sends Jesus to become our Redeemer. For the same reason, it is the Father who will raise Jesus from the dead to vindicate Jesus’ trust in Him.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

John 12:44-50

44 Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, 45 and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. 46 I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. 48 Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, 49 because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

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