Readings culled from the CATHOLIC APP. Download app HERE
Collect
O God, who have united the many nations in confessing your name, grant that those reborn in the font of Baptism may be one in the faith of their hearts and the homage of their deeds. Through our Lord…
FIRST READING
“You killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 3 : 11-26)
In those days: While the lame man who had been cured clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s, astounded. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 8:2ab and 5.6-7a.7b-9 (R. 2ab)
R/. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name through all the earth!
Or: Alleluia.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic
is your name through all the earth!
What is man that you should keep him in mind,
the son of man that you care for him? R.
Yet you have made him little lower than the angels;
with glory and honour you crowned him,
gave him power over the works of your hands. R.
You put all things under his feet,
all of them, sheep and oxen,
yes, even the cattle of the fields,
birds of the air, and fish of the sea
that make their way through the waters. R.
ALLELUIA Psalm 118:24
Alleluia. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 24:35-48)
At that time: The two disciples told what had happened on the road to Emmaus and how Jesus was known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Thursday in the Octave of Easter. Reflection by Rev Fr Oselumhense Anetor (Uromi Diocese)
You’re the heirs of the prophets?
Acts 3:11-26; Luke 24:35-48
In Peter’s speech to the Jews from the Portico of Solomon this morning, we see what it means to be a fearless preacher and prophet. Peter didn’t fall into the temptation of glorifying himself because he had just performed a miracle, as many so called prophets do today. He looked the people in the face and accused them of their sins. Then he told them another truth; “you’re the heirs of the prophets, the heirs of the covenant God made with your ancestors…”
Friends, it is often said that an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Are we truly heirs of the prophets? Do we have the blood of the apostles and martyrs flowing through our veins by our common heritage in Christ Jesus? Then we must become fearless preachers. We must kindly tell our world the truth at all times and ignore the consequences. This is the only way we can witness to all the nations. But first, we must make sure our lives radiate nothing but truth. Do not fret therefore. It is not by power and might, but by the Spirit, says the Lord.
Good morning dear. God bless your day ahead…
