Monday, April 1, 2024

02-APL-'24, Tuesday in the Octave of Easter


Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

Lectionary: 262


Reading 1

Acts 2:36-41

On the day of Pentecost, Peter said to the Jewish people,

“Let the whole house of Israel know for certain

that God has made him both Lord and Christ,

this Jesus whom you crucified.”


Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart,

and they asked Peter and the other Apostles,

“What are we to do, my brothers?”

Peter said to them,

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you,

in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins;

and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise is made to you and to your children

and to all those far off,

whomever the Lord our God will call.”

He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them,

“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

Those who accepted his message were baptized,

and about three thousand persons were added that day.


Responsorial Psalm

33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22

R.    (5b)  The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R.    Alleluia.


Upright is the word of the LORD,

and all his works are trustworthy.

He loves justice and right;

of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

R.    The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R.    Alleluia.


See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,

upon those who hope for his kindness,

To deliver them from death

and preserve them in spite of famine.

R.    The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R.    Alleluia.


Our soul waits for the LORD,

who is our help and our shield.

May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us

who have put our hope in you.

R.    The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R.    Alleluia.


Sequence - optional

Victimae paschali laudes

Christians, to the Paschal Victim

            Offer your thankful praises!

A Lamb the sheep redeems;

            Christ, who only is sinless,

            Reconciles sinners to the Father.

Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:

            The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.

Speak, Mary, declaring

            What you saw, wayfaring.

“The tomb of Christ, who is living,

            The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;

bright angels attesting,

            The shroud and napkin resting.

Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;

            to Galilee he goes before you.”

Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.

            Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!

            Amen. Alleluia.


Alleluia

Psalm 118:24

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

This is the day the LORD has made;

let us be glad and rejoice in it.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel

John 20:11-18

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.

And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb

and saw two angels in white sitting there,

one at the head and one at the feet

where the Body of Jesus had been.

And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,

and I don’t know where they laid him.”

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,

but did not know it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?

Whom are you looking for?”

She thought it was the gardener and said to him,

“Sir, if you carried him away,

tell me where you laid him,

and I will take him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”

which means Teacher.

Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,

for I have not yet ascended to the Father.

But go to my brothers and tell them,

‘I am going to my Father and your Father,

to my God and your God.’”

Mary went and announced to the disciples,

“I have seen the Lord,”

and then reported what he had told her.


Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections


Cling to Jesus Now!

Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” John 20:17


Mary of Magdala was one of the first persons to whom Jesus appeared. She was deeply devoted to Him, especially because of the great mercy He offered her when He forgave her manifest sins and expelled seven demons from her. After He had done that, Mary became a devout follower and was one of the few who remained faithful to Him, even as He hung upon the Cross.


On the first day of the week, the Sunday after the Crucifixion, Mary came to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body in accord with Jewish custom. But when she arrived, Jesus’ body was gone. And when Jesus appeared to her as she was weeping, she didn’t immediately recognize Him, for He had His new glorified body. But when Jesus spoke her name, Mary, she recognized Him. But rather than embracing her, Jesus said, “Stop holding on to me…” Why would Jesus say this?


Even though Mary’s attachment and devotion to Jesus was beautiful and holy, it wasn’t yet perfected. She wanted her Lord Whom she had come to know and followed. She wanted her former relationship with Jesus to be returned to her. But for this reason, Jesus said, “Stop holding on to me…” Jesus wanted much more. He was telling her that her relationship with Him was soon to change for the better. No longer would He simply be her earthly companion; instead, He would soon live within her, dwell within her very heart, become one with her, and be her Bridegroom for eternity. But this could only happen once Jesus ascended to the Father in Heaven to complete His divine mission of salvation.


At times, we also seek favors from our Lord that are purely temporal. Though we do need to trust Him for “our daily bread,” meaning, for all the basic necessities of life, we must realize that the gifts God wants to give us far surpass anything in this world. The supernatural gift of grace, the gift of the Indwelling of the Most Holy Trinity, the gift of oneness with our Lord is what we are made for and is the end goal and desire of our Lord.


Reflect, today, upon these words Jesus spoke to Mary: “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.” But do so with the knowledge that, now, Jesus has indeed ascended to the Father. Therefore, He now invites us all to cling to Him as He reigns in Heaven. Ponder the deep desire in the heart of our Lord that you cling to Him with every fiber of your being. He wants to dwell within you, to become one with you and to transform you in every way. This holy union is now being enjoyed for all eternity by Saint Mary of Magdala, and this same gift is being offered to you. Cling to Him and never let go, for this will be your eternal joy.


Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body


JESUS, MY BROTHER


“Go to My brothers...” —John 20:17


The above verse is the first time in the Gospels that Jesus specifically calls His apostles “brothers.” God the Father can now become the Father of the apostles, and of us, because He will now be able to give them the Holy Spirit due to Jesus’ Resurrection (Jn 16:7). The Spirit “proceeds from the Father and the Son” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 246; cf Jn 14:16, 26). Thus Jesus, Who ascends to His Father, knows that His disciples can be re-born as God’s children (see Jn 3:5), and therefore, literally be His brothers and sisters, children of the same Father. The apostles had done the will of God and were trying their best to remain together as His community. And so Jesus rewarded them by telling them that His Father and God is their Father and God (Jn 20:17). What a privilege to be able to call the God Who created the universe our Father!


When we carry our crosses and follow Jesus, He has blessings in store for us that make us consider the sufferings we must endure as nothing (Rm 8:18). Pope Francis has spoken of Christians who choose to live a “Lent without Easter” existence. He meant that they focus on various aspects of the Christian life, such as the cross, suffering, and renunciation, but neglect to rejoice and be glad in the risen life Jesus came to inaugurate. The Pope said that these Christians don’t let the joy of the risen Jesus transform their hearts or smiles. They aren’t receiving their reward in full (see 2 Jn 8).


Be Jesus’ brother or sister. Be a child of the Father. Rejoice and be glad in the risen Savior. Jesus is risen. Alleluia!


Prayer:  “I have seen the Lord!” (Jn 20:18)


Promise:  “You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” —Acts 2:38


Praise:  Praise the risen Jesus! “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:55) Alleluia forever!


Reflection 3

The Servants of the Word


I Have Seen the Lord!


Do you recognize the Lord's presence when you hear his word? How easy it is to miss the Lord Jesus when our focus is on ourselves! Mary did not at first recognize the Lord because her focus was on the empty tomb and on her own grief. It took only one word from the Master, when he called her by name, for Mary to recognize him.


The Risen Lord Jesus reveals himself to us as we listen to his word

Mary's message to the disciples, I have seen the Lord, is the very essence of Christianity. It is not enough that a Christian knows about the Lord, but that we know him personally. It is not enough to argue about him but to meet him. In the resurrection, we encounter the living Lord Jesus who loves us personally and shares his glory with us. The Lord Jesus gives us "eyes of faith" to see the truth of his resurrection and his victory over sin and death (Ephesians 1:18). And he opens our ears to recognize his voice as we listen to the "good news" proclaimed in the Gospel message today.


The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the foundation of our hope - the hope that we, too, who believe in him will see the living God face to face and share in his everlasting glory and joy. "Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls"(1 Peter 1:8-9). Do you recognize the Lord's presence with you, in his word, in the "breaking of the bread," and in his church, the body of Christ?


Prayers

My risen and ascended Lord, You now reign in Heaven in perfect glory and splendour. Draw me into Your glorious life and invite me to cling to You with all my heart. I invite You, dear Lord, to come and make Your dwelling within me so that I can hold on to You forevermore. Jesus, I trust in You.


Lord Jesus, may I never fail to recognize your voice nor lose sight of your presence as you open the Scriptures for me and speak your life-giving word.


Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy


Reflection 92: Creativity in Prayer

Oftentimes, our days are filled with activity.  Families are often occupied with one event or another.  Chores and work can pile up and we may find, at the end of the day, that we have had little time to pray to God in solitude.  But solitude and prayer can happen at times throughout our busy day.  Though it’s important to look for moments when we can be alone with God, giving Him our full attention, we should also look for opportunities to pray, interiorly, in the midst of our busy lives (See Diary #401).


Do you find that your life is full of activity?  Do you find that you are often too busy to get away and pray?  Though this is not the ideal, it can be remedied by looking for opportunities within your busyness.  At a school event, while driving, while cooking or cleaning, we always have the opportunity to raise our minds and hearts to God in prayer.  Remind yourself, this day, that you can pray during most moments of the day.  Praying continually, this way, may provide the solitude you so desperately need.


Lord, I long to be in Your presence throughout my day.  I long to see You and to love You always.  Help me to pray to You, in the midst of my activity, so that I may always be in Your company.  Jesus, I trust in You.



Click on the link below for 9 Days of the Divine Mercy Novena


https://theblessedpeace.blogspot.com/2020/04/nine-days-divine-mercy-novena.html


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