DAILY MASS READING

Monday, April 16, 2012

Easter Weekday 

 

FIRST READING

 

Acts 4: 23 – 31 

 

23 When they were released they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,25 who by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, didst say by the Holy Spirit, `Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?26 The kings of the earth set themselves in array, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed' --27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,28 to do whatever thy hand and thy plan had predestined to take place.29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,30 while thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of thy holy servant Jesus."31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. 

 

PSALM RESPONSES 

 

Psalms 2: 1 – 9 

 

1 Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and his anointed, saying,3 "Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us."4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD has them in derision.5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,6 "I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill."7 I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my son, today I have begotten you.8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.9 You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." 

 

GOSPEL 

 

John 3: 1 – 8 

 

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicode'mus, a ruler of the Jews.2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him."3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God."4 Nicode'mus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7 Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born anew.'8 The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit."

Even though you possess plenty, you are still indigent. You abound in temporal possessions, but you need things eternal. You listen to the needs of a human beggar, yet yourself are a beggar of God. What you do with those who beg from you is what God will do with His beggar. You are filled and you are empty. Fill your empty neighbor with your fullness, so that your emptiness may be filled from God's fullness.-- St. Augustine

 The Holy Bible

 

The Holy Eucharist

 

Mother Mary

www.comepraytherosary.org /

Devotion to the Divine Mercy

Chaplet of Divine Mercy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDT8XF3uo60

DAILY MASS READING

 "My Lord and my God!"

 Sunday, April 15, 2012
Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday 

FIRST READING 

Acts 4: 32 – 35 

32 Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common.33 And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold35 and laid it at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need. 

PSALM RESPONSES
 

Psalms 118: 2 - 4, 13 - 15, 22 – 24  

2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."3 Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."4 Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."

13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.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,

22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.24 This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  

SECOND READING 

1 John 5: 1 – 6 

1 Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child.2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.5 Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?6 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood.  

GOSPEL

John 20: 19 – 31 

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you."27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing."28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them.-- St. Therese

The Holy Bible

The Holy Eucharist

Holy Mary

www.comepraytherosary.org /

Today is the

 Feast of the Divine Mercy

Jesus I trust in You

Devotion to the Divine Mercy

Chaplet of Divine Mercy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDT8XF3uo60

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

The Holy Bible

 The Holy Eucharist

Mother Mary

www.comepraytherosary.org /

Devotion to the Divine Mercy

Chaplet of Divine Mercy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDT8XF3uo60

DAILY MASS READING

 

 He said to them, "Cast the net on the
right side of the boat, and you will find some."

 Friday, April 13, 2012
Friday in the Octave of Easter 

 

FIRST  READING

 

 Acts 4: 1 – 12 

 

1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sad'ducees came upon them,2 annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the morrow, for it was already evening.4 But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to about five thousand.5 On the morrow their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem,6 with Annas the high priest and Ca'iaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed,10 be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well.11 This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner.12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." 

 

PSALM RESPONSES 

 

Psalms 118: 1 - 2, 4, 22 – 27 

 

1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."
 

4 Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."
 

22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.24 This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.25 Save us, we beseech thee, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech thee, give us success!26 Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.

 

 GOSPEL 

 

John 21: 1 – 14 

 

1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe'ri-as; and he revealed himself in this way.2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan'a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb'edee, and two others of his disciples were together.3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing.4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.5 Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No."6 He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish.7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea.8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread.10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Grant, O Lord, that my heart may neither desire nor seek anything but what is necessary for the fulfillment of Your Holy Will. May health or sickness, riches or poverty, honors or contempt, humiliations, leave my soul in that state of perfect detachment to which I desire to attain for Your greater honor and Your greater glory. Amen

-- St. Ignatius Loyola

The Holy Bible

The Holy Echarist

 Mother Mary

www.comepraytherosary.org /

Devotion to the Divine Mercy

Chaplet of Divine Mercy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDT8XF3uo60