Gospel: April 6, 2024
(Saturday)
Octave of Easter, Saturday
Psalter: Proper / (White)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 118: 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
1st Reading: Acts 4: 13-21
They were astonished at the boldness of Peter and John, considering that they were uneducated and untrained men. They recognized, also, that they had been with Jesus, but, as the man who had been cured stood beside them, they could make no reply.
So they ordered them to leave the council room while they consulted with one another. They asked, “What shall we do with these men? Everyone who lives in Jerusalem knows, that a remarkable sign has been given through them, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them never again to speak to anyone in the name of Jesus.” So they called them back and charged them not to speak, or teach at all, in the name of Jesus.
But Peter and John answered them, “Judge for yourselves, whether it is right in God’s eyes, for us to obey you, rather than God. We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Then the council threatened them once more and let them go. They could find no way of punishing them because of the people, who glorified God for what had happened.
Gospel: Mark 16: 9-15After Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary of Magdala, from whom he had driven out seven demons. She went and reported the news to his followers, who were now mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he lived, and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
After this he showed himself in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. These men also went back and told the others, but they did not believe them.
Later Jesus showed himself to the Eleven while they were at table. He reproached them for their unbelief, and hardness of heart, in refusing to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
Then he told them, “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation.
Reflection:“Proclaim the Good News.”
The synoptic Gospels, in their present respective forms, narrate Jesus commissioning his disciples to go out and proclaim the Good News (cf. Mt. 28:16- 20 and Lk. 24:44-49). Matthew emphasizes the mandate to make all the nations Jesus’ disciples. In Luke, there is an emphasis on the preaching of repentance to all nations. In Mark, the instruction is to “go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation” (Mk. 16:15). Mark uses the word ktisis, which means “creation.” The mandate is to proclaim the Good News not only to human creatures but to all creation. Hence, the challenge is to exercise our Christian responsibility not only to one another but also to the rest of created reality. God is compassionate to all that he has made (cf. Ps. 145:9). It is part of our mission to care for our common home. We need to bring back that sense of care not only to our fellow human beings but to other creatures as well. We need to be mindful of the many creatures becoming instinct every day due to our selfishness. May the Divine Mercy free us from selfishness, enabling us to truly care for our common home.
