WEDNESDAY, SECOND WEEK OF EASTERTIDE
Acts 5: 17-26 Ps 34: 2-9 Jn 3: 16-21
LIVING THE PASCHAL MYSTERY
The apostles are arrested and imprisoned, but they are miraculously rescued by an angel of the Lord. When the Israelites escaped from Egypt, they are consistently protected by an angel of the Lord. In Joshua, the army was guided by a divine messenger. In Judges 2, the angel of the Lord speaks to the people. Liberated by God, the apostles are instructed to go to the temple, where God is “enthroned on the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3). In this sacred place, they share with the people the whole message about Jesus’ life. The authorities fear a public reaction. Are we – you and I – prepared to share the wonderful things that God does in our lives with others?
At daybreak, both the prison and the tomb are empty. The empty prison and tomb reveal God’s mystery. Those who come searching cannot find what they are looking for or expect. They return puzzled and confused, bearing testimony of what they have seen. The emptiness must not remind us of an absence, instead it should help us to realize the beginning of new presence. How does faith grow in our lives? Faith grows not by solving puzzles but by living the Paschal mystery of resurrection. The apostles were instructed to continue proclaiming the message of “new life” in the temple. Pope Francis in his Urbi Et Orbi Easter message, 20 April 2025, affirms that “Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has the upper hand; it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day.” Today, what is the grace that I would ask God for?
The day’s responsorial Psalm is a hymn of thanksgiving that highlights God’s saving power and protection of the righteous. It conveys joy in trusting Him, reflecting the apostles’ experience of deliverance despite threats, leading them to continue praising God. The Gospel reminds us that salvation comes through faith in Christ, but those who reject Him remain in darkness. The apostles’ mission in Acts of the Apostles, invites us to share the message of Christ’s love, even when faced with opposition.
Response: The lowly one called, and the Lord heard him.
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