1ST READING
Would
you be willing to go to jail for the sake of the Gospel? I hope so!
However, there are some things that we can never really know until we
are faced with them. The Apostles are not willing to compromise their
faith and, thus, are jailed for proclaiming the Gospel. Let us pray for
the grace to follow their example.
Acts 5:17-26
17 The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, 18 laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, 20 “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” 21 When
they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and
taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened
the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the children of Israel, and sent to
the jail to have them brought in. 22 But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported, 23 “We
found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the
doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 When
the
captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report,
they were at a loss about them, as to what this would come to. 25 Then someone came in and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people.” 26 Then
the captain and the court officers went and brought them, but without
force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
P S A L M
Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R: The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
[2] I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 3 [4] Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my
fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 7 [8] The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 [9] Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him. (R)
GOSPEL
This
is an important text as it reminds us that God is always motivated by
love, not revenge or impartial judgment. Knowing this gives us great
hope as it removes the temptation to despair if we accept it as true. If
God only desires to love us, then we can be sure of His forgiveness and
of His provision for all that we need to be faithful to His will.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
John 3:16-21
16 God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever
believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has
already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the
only-begotten Son of God.
19 And
this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people
preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. 21 But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
think: God is always motivated by love, not revenge or impartial judgment.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Numbers 31-33
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