Home Bible Acts of the Apostles CATHOLIC MASS: Monday of the Second Week of Easter 4.13.15 – Video, Scripture, Links

CATHOLIC MASS: Monday of the Second Week of Easter 4.13.15 – Video, Scripture, Links

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Bible-200“… they raised their voices to God with one accord and said, ‘Sovereign Lord, Maker of Heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them … enable your servants to speak Your Word with all boldness …’ As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the Word of God with boldness.”

 

Mass Readings 4.13.15 – FIRST READING Acts 4:23-31 – PSALM 2:1-3, 4-7A, 7B-9 – GOSPEL: John 3:1-8 – FIND A MASS: MassTimes.org – TheCatholicDirectory.com

 

GOSPEL

GOSPEL: John 3:1-8

Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews comes to Jesus at night, confessing that he realizes Jesus “has come from God.”

Jesus speaks of the need to be born from above, of water and Spirit.

Jesus answered and said to him,
‘Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.’
* * *
… unless one is born of water and Spirit
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
* * *
The wind blows where it wills,
and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’

Is there Mystery surrounding the nature of someone born, or reborn from above, or how they, or they true self, come into being? Or perhaps is there something about being born from above that defies the limits of ordinary earthly understanding?

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

PSALM 2:1-3, 4-7A, 7B-9

Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.

FIRST READING

FIRST READING Acts 4:23-31

At a point in time after the Resurrection, Ascension and Descent of the Holy Spirit, Peter and John have been harassed and questioned by some of the Jewish authorities.  Yet now they have been released.  They return to their fellow followers of Christ.

The early Christians pray to God, noting the earthly forces seeking to oppose God (to the point of already having moved against Jesus, with His Crucifixion, that was, of course, followed by His Resurrection and Ascension).  The early Christians ask for Divine Help to enable them to boldly Proclaim the Gospel. They also ask for God to work Miracles through the Name of Jesus.

‘Sovereign Lord, Maker of Heaven and earth …
* * *
…  take note of their threats,
and enable Your Servants to speak Your Word
with all boldness, as You stretch forth Your Hand to heal,
and signs and wonders are done
through the Name of your Holy Servant Jesus.’

As they pray, the structure shakes, and their prayers appear to be answered.  They are filled with the Holy Spirit and, indeed, continue to speak the Word of God with boldness.

As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook,
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

They not only act in cooperation with God.  The early Christians recognize that it is with God’s Help, and the Force of the Holy Spirit, that they are to persevere and act out their appointed Mission for the Kingdom of God. They are impelled by the Holy Spirit, energized by the Holy Spirit, and gladly go forth about their Mission seeking and welcoming the Power of the Holy Spirit to sustain and push forward all of their efforts for the Kingdom of God.

Do we seek to know and do God’s Will, and do we ask for God to give us the Grace and the ability to carry out the Mission He assigns us?

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