- Admin
- Apr 21, 2024
- 3 min read
April 22 - April 27, 2024
Acts 11:1-18 Should followers of Jesus follow all the Jewish Law, including circumcision, Sabbath and food regulations? It was an important question for the first generation. The answer, given three times in a vision, shaped the future of Christianity.
John 10:1-10 We encounter another of the seven I AM sentences of this Gospel, perhaps one of the less remembered ones: I am the gate. We need to think of point of access or encounter, as in “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).
St George, martyr
Acts 11:19-26 This is a summary statement, letting us know about the expansion of The Way after the decision not to impose Jewish regulations on Gentiles.
John 10:22-30 The feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) is mentioned: this feast celebrated the rededication of the Temple in the previous century. At the time of writing that restored Temple was also in ruins, causing consternation for both Jews and Christians. The Christian response was to name Jesus as our shepherd, who would lead us both to God and to eternal life.
St Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest, martyr
Acts 12:24-13:5 A wonderful reading for today’s church. It is clear that the gifts of prophecy and teaching were abundant — and that the church is alive because they listen to the Spirit.
John 12:44-50 The preceding two verses (not in the reading) give the context for this long reflection. We are overhearing the “catechetical” voice of the Johannine community — in conflict with those who do not accept this message.
St Mark, evangelist
1 Peter 5:5-14 The reading is chosen because it mentions a certain “Mark”. According to tradition, Mark’s Gospel represents the preaching of Peter. 1 Peter is a very late Christian document, written in the name of Peter, but honours that link all the same.
Mark 16:15-20 The ending of Mark’s gospel—unlikely to be original—brings to expression the energy, vision and commitment behind all evangelization. Even if not Markan in the strict sense, it can still speak to us today: evangelization is at the heart of sodality.
Acts 13:26-33 For this scene, we have moved to Antioch in Pisidia (14 cities bore the name Antioch in antiquity!). In a typical speech, Paul started yesterday reviewing the history of salvation; today Paul gives an account of the death and resurrection of Jesus, in the light of the Holy Scriptures.
John 14:7-14 Today we hear a reading familiar from funerals; perhaps we can reflect on it today without the tragic context of death. It is really about Jesus own departure / death first of all. The last line offers us another of the great I AM sentences from this Gospel.
St Asicus, bishop
Acts 13:44-52 The switch to the Gentiles is signaled yet again in this brief story. Most likely, the Gentiles were the so-called Godfearers, that is, people already attracted to Judaism because of its pure doctrine of God, high moral code and its antiquity.
John 14:7-14 Our reading from John is very rich again today. It does contain a startling line: whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater works. What could that possible mean? Somehow it means that after the great event of Jesus’ death and resurrection, our task is to offer salvation, the salvation not yet achieved or somehow not available before Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
References
-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024aj, April 21). Fourth Sunday of Easter. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042124.cfm
-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/
