Golden Light Bearer: DAILY MASS READING

Saturday, April 14, 2012

DAILY MASS READING

Saturday, April 14, 2012
Saturday in the Octave of Easter

FIRST READING

Acts 4: 13 – 21

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.14But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred with one another,16 saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any one in this name."18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.19 But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge;20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for all men praised God for what had happened.

PSALM RESPONSES

Psalms 118: 1, 14 – 21

1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!

14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.15 Hark, glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,16 the right hand of the LORD is exalted, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!"17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.18 The LORD has chastened me sorely, but he has not given me over to death.19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.21 I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation.

GOSPEL

Mark 16: 9 – 15

9 Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.12 After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.

The prophet refers to some men saying: When they say to you: You are not our brothers, you are to tell them: You are our brothers. Consider whom he intended by these words. Were they the pagans? Hardly; for nowhere either in Scripture or in our traditional manner of speaking do we find them called our brothers. Nor could it refer to the Jews, who do not believe in Christ. Read Saint Paul and you will see that when he speaks of "brothers," without any qualification, he refers always to Christians. If they say, "Why do you seek us? What do you want of us?" we should reply: You are our brothers. They may say, "Leave us alone. We have nothing to do with you." But we have everything to do with you, for we are one in our belief in Christ; and so we should be in one body, under one head.

-- St. Augustine