Readings and Reflection for April 14 Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter

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FIRST READING              
“The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 5: 17-26)

In those days: The high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and taught. Now the high priest came and those who were with him and called together the council and all the senate of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the sentries standing at the doors, but when we opened it we found no one inside.” Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. And some one came and told them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM  Psalm 34:2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9 (R. 7a)
R/.
 The lowly one called, and the Lord heard him.
Or:  Alleluia.

I will bless the Lord at all times,
praise of him is always in my mouth.
In the Lord my soul shall make its boast;
the humble shall hear and be glad. R/.

Glorify the Lord with me;
together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free. R/.

R/. The lowly one called, and the Lord heard him.
Or:  Alleluia.

Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This lowly one called; the Lord heard,
and rescued him from all his distress. R/.

The angel of the Lord is encamped
around those who fear him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed the man who seeks refuge in him.  R/.

ALLELUIA  John 3 : 16
Alleluia. God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son; that whoever believes in him should have eternal life. Alleluia.

GOSPEL              
“God sent the Son into the world that the world might be saved through him.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 3: 16 – 21)

Jesus said to Nicodemus, “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection
He who is open to faith in the Son of God obtains salvation. He who refuses to believe and to love remains in death. He who does what is right joyfully enters into the forgiving, liberating and saving light of Christ. Opposition to Christ who is light is darkness and evil; staying faithful to him is light and goodness and truth. Christ demands a decision and a choice in clear terms-either to accept him or to reject him. Acceptance becomes a progressive reception of grace and power; by rejection the person gets imprisoned in deaf and blind hostility.

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