Prayers
With prayer as the center of our lives, we serve in simplicity and joy.
Daily we pray both alone and together.
Coming before God in solitude, we listen and respond to the Spirit.
Gathering in Jesus’ name we share his word with one another and the world as a whole.
In these pages we welcome your prayer requests
and offer our weekly reflections for each Sunday and those from special occasions.
Join us in this sacred journey.
Daily we pray both alone and together.
Coming before God in solitude, we listen and respond to the Spirit.
Gathering in Jesus’ name we share his word with one another and the world as a whole.
In these pages we welcome your prayer requests
and offer our weekly reflections for each Sunday and those from special occasions.
Join us in this sacred journey.
READINGS AND REFLECTION FOR APRIL 18, 2021
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THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
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1st Reading: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 4: 2, 4, 7-9 2nd Reading: 1 Jn 2: 1-5a Gospel: Lk 24: 35-48 |
REFLECTION:
There are three themes running through today’s readings: revealing Jesus, following God’s commands, and evangelization.
It was not known to the people of Israel, nor even to the disciples, that Jesus was the Messiah of the ancient prophets. After healing a lame man, Peter explained to the curious crowd of Israelites “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has given divine glory to His servant Jesus” (Acts 3:13). “You killed the one who leads to life, but God raised Him from death-and we are witnesses to this” (Acts 3:15). “God announced long ago through all the prophets that his Messiah had to suffer; and He made it come true in this way (Acts 3:18).
John explains in 1 Jn 2:2, “And Christ Himself is the means by which our sins are forgiven, and not our sins only, but also the sins of everyone.”
The Resurrected Jesus said to the huddled disciples “These are the very things I told you about while I was still with you: everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the writings of the prophets and the Psalms had to come true. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Lk 24: 44-45).
Jesus mentions the Laws of Moses. The Lord expects our obedience to His Commandments. He gave us these laws not to burden us, but to make our lives joyful and ordered. How much would the world be changed if everyone obeyed the Ten Commandments?
The Psalmist writes, “How long will you people insult me? How long will you love what is worthless and go after what is false (Ps 4: 2)?” “Tremble with fear and stop sinning (Ps 4: 4).” Lasting joy doesn’t come from food, drink, alcohol or other pleasures, but from following God’s commands.
“If we obey God’s commands, then we are sure that we know Him. If someone says that he knows Him but does not obey his commands, such a person is a liar and there is no truth in him. But whoever obeys His word is the one whose love for God has really been made perfect (1 Jn 2: 3-5a).”
Jesus exhorts His disciples to evangelize. “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures (Lk 24:45) and in His name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem (Lk 24: 47).”
How did Jesus and His disciples evangelize? They used moments of curiosity, as when Peter healed the lame man. They met people where they were, asking questions and establishing common ground. They witnessed by the lives they lived in obedience and joyfulness.
PRAYER:
Jesus, we thank You this day that by Your Easter sacrifice You made a way to forgive our sins. Help us to find joy in following your commands, and to evangelize to the world by the way we live our lives. Amen
Chris Warders, Associate
There are three themes running through today’s readings: revealing Jesus, following God’s commands, and evangelization.
It was not known to the people of Israel, nor even to the disciples, that Jesus was the Messiah of the ancient prophets. After healing a lame man, Peter explained to the curious crowd of Israelites “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has given divine glory to His servant Jesus” (Acts 3:13). “You killed the one who leads to life, but God raised Him from death-and we are witnesses to this” (Acts 3:15). “God announced long ago through all the prophets that his Messiah had to suffer; and He made it come true in this way (Acts 3:18).
John explains in 1 Jn 2:2, “And Christ Himself is the means by which our sins are forgiven, and not our sins only, but also the sins of everyone.”
The Resurrected Jesus said to the huddled disciples “These are the very things I told you about while I was still with you: everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the writings of the prophets and the Psalms had to come true. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Lk 24: 44-45).
Jesus mentions the Laws of Moses. The Lord expects our obedience to His Commandments. He gave us these laws not to burden us, but to make our lives joyful and ordered. How much would the world be changed if everyone obeyed the Ten Commandments?
The Psalmist writes, “How long will you people insult me? How long will you love what is worthless and go after what is false (Ps 4: 2)?” “Tremble with fear and stop sinning (Ps 4: 4).” Lasting joy doesn’t come from food, drink, alcohol or other pleasures, but from following God’s commands.
“If we obey God’s commands, then we are sure that we know Him. If someone says that he knows Him but does not obey his commands, such a person is a liar and there is no truth in him. But whoever obeys His word is the one whose love for God has really been made perfect (1 Jn 2: 3-5a).”
Jesus exhorts His disciples to evangelize. “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures (Lk 24:45) and in His name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem (Lk 24: 47).”
How did Jesus and His disciples evangelize? They used moments of curiosity, as when Peter healed the lame man. They met people where they were, asking questions and establishing common ground. They witnessed by the lives they lived in obedience and joyfulness.
PRAYER:
Jesus, we thank You this day that by Your Easter sacrifice You made a way to forgive our sins. Help us to find joy in following your commands, and to evangelize to the world by the way we live our lives. Amen
Chris Warders, Associate
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