Octave Of Easter
04th April 2024 (Thursday)
Psalter: Proper
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Acts 3:11-26
In those days: While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 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 have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over 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 you 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 that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. “And now, brothers, 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 would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, 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 restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who 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 after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
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.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/.This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Luke 24:35-48
At that time: The two disciples told what had happened on the road to Emmaus, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have 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 were marvellling, 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 that 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 for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Highlight: Easter Thursday
Guidelines: Our ignorance or arrogance often may prevent us from repenting, turning to the Lord, converting our life, and bearing witness to him
1. To the apostles who were frightened and shaken in their faith, the risen Jesus appears and says, “Peace to you!” He asks them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” He also shows them the way to tranquilise all our fears and doubts.
2. First, he showed his hands and feet that were wounded and bruised for our sake. Second, he shared meals with them. Third, he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures and all the happenings according to the Scriptures.
3. Jesus utters the same blessing even now to all of us, “Peace be to you!” He is asking us especially when disturbed and wavering, “Why are you troubled and doubting?’ The same remedies are relevant and effective even now. We need to see and experience him personally and clearly. Touch and see his love that suffered and died for us.
4. Allow him to sit with us and share a meal with us. Allow him to open our minds to understand the Scriptures and see all that happens in the light of God’s holy will and plans. As Moses said, cited in the first reading, “You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you”.
5. And as Peter exhorted, “Repent and turn again” to the Lord. Finally, be witnesses to him. This is what Jesus mandates, “You are witnesses of these things”, and Peter affirms, “We are witnesses to this”.
6. Another important condition for such a personal experience of tranquillity and peace is humility. How humble Peter was! People began to glorify him after he healed the lame man. But immediately he attributes all credit to God.
7. He questions, “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this … as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?” He admits quite candidly that it is due to the power of the same Jesus whom they killed. What a difference from many modern followers of Christ who are seekers of self-glory!
Practice: If only we repent and turn to God, our sins will be blotted out, times of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord, and all the families will be blessed
