Third Week of Easter
17th April 2024 (Wednesday)
Psalter: Week 3
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Acts 8:1b-8
There arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.
Psalm 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a (R. 1)
R/. Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Everyone who believes in the Son shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day, says the Lord.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : John 6:35-40
At that time: Jesus said to the crowds, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Wednesday – Third Week of Easter
Guidelines: Troubles and trials will come on the way of following Christ. But nothing can destroy faith or stop the spread of God’s reign
1. The history of the spread of faith and the establishment of the church is very interesting and paradoxical. The more the church was persecuted, the more it grew. The more the followers were intimidated, the more they stood bold and firm. The more they were scattered, the more they were united in one faith and mission.
2. They were wounded but they gave healing to others. They were imprisoned but they liberated others from slavery to sin. They were insulted and defamed but they gave new dignity to others. This is all because they believed in the Lord and clung to him. They hungered and thirsted for him who said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst”.
3. Jesus clearly declared the purpose of his coming. That is to do not his will but the will of the Father who sent him. And the will of the Father is not to lose anyone but to gain everyone so that they will gain eternal life. The disciples and the believers are that precious gain. They receive the gift of faith and obtain eternal life.
4. The apostles and the disciples were convinced of their call and mission. Their only focus was to believe in the Lord and resemble him both in life and mission. Accordingly, they would constantly strive to gain all for the Lord so that no one would perish.
Practice: The Lord clearly says that it is God’s will that no one is lost. But if someone is lost, it clearly shows that it is one’s own free choice to reject the life offered by God. For God never rejects anyone.
