Daily Readings for April 16, 2016

1ST READING 

The Acts of the Apostles attests to many miracles worked by the Apostles as they share the Gospel in the surrounding areas of Jerusalem and beyond. We should also expect miracles to accompany our proclamation of the Gospel. Why do we not see as many miracles today? Perhaps because we lack the faith that God will perform miracles if we ask Him.

Acts 9:31-42

31 The Church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. She was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit she grew in numbers. 32 As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” He got up at once. 35 And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. 37 Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid her out in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to her body and said, “Tabitha, rise up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord.

P S A L M

Psalm 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

R: How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me.

12 How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? 13 The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. (R) 14 My vows to the Lord I will pay in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. (R) 16 O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, 5the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds. 17 To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. (R)

GOSPEL

One of the sadder parts of the Scriptures is when many people left Jesus because they found His teaching difficult. The same thing happens again and again throughout history. We must develop true humility so that we can take things on trust, especially those that are beyond our understanding.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.

John 6:60-69

60 Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” 61 Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? 62 What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. 65 And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” 66 As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him. 67 Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com

Daily Readings for April 15, 2016

1ST READING

Nowhere in the text are we told that Saul is riding a horse. Stories of his conversion experience usually say that he fell from a horse. We should be mindful not to misrepresent Scripture even for a good purpose. The conversion of Saul is a miraculous event that we could reflect on. However, let us focus on the bravery of Ananias. He responded to a call to visit Saul, a great persecutor of the Church, in order to pray with him. His faith in God must be very strong to move him to obey this calling.

Acts 9:1-20

1 Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. 3 On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. 9 For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. 10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, 12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, that he may regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, 16 and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” 17 So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, 19 and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

P S A L M

Psalm 117:1, 2

R: Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

1 Praise the Lord, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples! (R) 2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever. (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus is firm about what the Eucharist stands for. Just as He humbled Himself to come among us with the message and gift of salvation, we, too, must demonstrate humility of faith. We need to accept the fullness of His teaching about the Eucharist. We will never fully understand it but we can trust that what Jesus tells us about it is true.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood, remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.

John 6:52-59

52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” 53 Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. 54 Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 59 These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com

Daily Readings for April 14, 2016

1ST READING

Philip’s journey is mysterious. God seems to have been awakened and instructed by God and was told to attend to the Ethiopian. This is the way the Holy Spirit can also work in our lives through the ordinary day-to-day events. We should never discount the fact that God might speak to us in an unexpected way. My friend woke up in the middle of the night and was inspired to pray for the success of the building of a shopping center. His obedience eventually led the owner of the shopping center to convert to Christianity.

Acts 8:26-40

26 Then the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” 27 So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.” 30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. 32 This was the Scripture passage he was reading: Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will tell of his posterity? For his life is taken from the earth. 34 Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him. 36 As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?” [37] 37 38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

P S A L M

Psalm 66:8-9, 16-17, 20

R: Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

8 Bless our God, you peoples, loudly sound his praise; 9 He has given life to our souls, and has not let our feet slip. (R) 16 Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me. 17 When I appealed to him in words, praise was on the tip of my tongue. (R) 20 Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness! (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus speaks about eternal life as one of the gifts of the Eucharist. It is a celebration of His death and resurrection. In a mysterious way, we enter into the gift of the new life that God offers us by becoming one with Jesus in Holy Communion.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.

John 6:44-51

44 Jesus said to the crowds: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; 50 this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

Daily Readings for April 13, 2016

1ST READING

Saul (soon to become Paul) is introduced as a fervent Jew who supports the killing of Stephen. This is reinforced by a description of Saul hauling Christians out of their homes in order to arrest and imprison them. This persecution is harsh and includes men, women and children. It is hard to believe that the same man will become one of the greatest Christian preachers of their time.

Acts 8:1-8

1 There broke out a severe persecution of the church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him. 3 Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment. 4 Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. 6 With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured. 8 There was great joy in that city.

P S A L M

Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

1 Shout joyfully to God, all the earth, 2 sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. 3 Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!” (R) 4 “Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you, sing praise to your name!” 5 Come and see the works of God, his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. (R) 6 He has changed the sea into dry land; through the river they passed on foot; therefore let us rejoice in him. 7 He rules by his might forever. (R)

GOSPEL

The Eucharist captures the essence of the ministry and life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This is why it is the central celebration of our Catholic faith. Everything we do as a Church is derived from the Eucharist and leads us back to it. Jesus is the center of the life of the Church and so He must also become the center of our lives.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day, says the Lord.

John 6:35-40

35 Jesus said to the crowds, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. 36 But I told you that although you have seen me, you do not believe. 37Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, 38 because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 39 And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com

Daily Readings for April 12, 2016

1ST READING

Stephen stands firm as he argues with the leaders. He tells it as it is, without compromise. This seals his fate. His persecutors are left with nowhere to go. Some of Stephen’s actions while he is being stoned reflect those of Jesus on the cross. Luke, the author of Acts, tells us that martyrs configure themselves to Christ in their death. The blood of martyrs is the seedbed of our faith.

Acts 7:51-8:1

51 Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors. 52 Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. 53 You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it.” 54 When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. 58 They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”; and when he said this, he fell asleep. 8:1 Now Saul was consenting to his execution.

P S A L M

Psalm 31:3-4, 6, 7, 8, 17, 21

R: Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

2 [3] Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety. 3 [4] You are my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me. (R) 5 [6] Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O Lord, O faithful God. 6 [7] My trust is in the Lord; 7 [8] I will rejoice and be glad of your mercy. 16 [17] Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your kindness. 20 [21] You hide them in the shelter of your presence from the plottings of men. (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus tells the people that it was God who provided the manna in the desert, not Moses. Manna was just a form of bread and whoever ate it went hungry again by the next mealtime. The bread Jesus will give in the Eucharist will be food that nourishes us eternally in the spirit. This teaching is not easy to accept, but it is what we believe about the Eucharist as Catholics. Many are scandalized by what Jesus teaches and they leave Him. This is one of the sad moments of Jesus’ ministry when the people who do not want to surrender to the Gospel leave Him.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the bread of life, says the Lord; whoever comes to me will never hunger.

John 6:30-35

30 The crowd said to Jesus: “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? 31 Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” 32 So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from  heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 So they said to Jesus, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com