Readings for Friday in the Octave of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 4:1-12
After the crippled man had been cured,
while Peter and John were still speaking to the people,
the priests, the captain of the temple guard,
and the Sadducees confronted them,
disturbed that they were teaching the people
and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
They laid hands on Peter and John
and put them in custody until the next day,
since it was already evening.
But many of those who heard the word came to believe
and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes
were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest,
Caiaphas, John, Alexander,
and all who were of the high-priestly class.
They brought them into their presence and questioned them,
"By what power or by what name have you done this?"
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them,
"Leaders of the people and elders:
If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 4:1-12
This selection follows Peter and John as they proclaim Christ crucified and risen. As we hear today, their effective apology has now gained them an audience with Caiaphas and the rest of the Sanhedrin – the very same people who handed Jesus over to be crucified and Peter, having just performed a saving act in His name, reminds them with the famous cornerstone (in other versions the word used is “keystone” or “head of the corner”) speech using imagery from their own hymnal Psalm 118:22 coincidently used as our psalm response below.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27a
R. (22) The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His mercy endures forever."
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 118:1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27a
This litany of thanksgiving features the cornerstone image that, in addition to the Acts selection above, was also used in the Gospel of St. Mark (Mark 12:10) and the first epistle of St. Peter (1 Peter 2:7) (there are 9 other references in the NAB as well).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 21:1-14
Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing."
They said to him, "We also will come with you."
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?"
They answered him, "No."
So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something."
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord."
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat,
for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards,
dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you just caught."
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast."
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?"
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 21:1-14
The Gospel from St. John gives us the Lord’s third appearance to the disciples. Again he his not at first recognized. In typical Johannine fashion, the first to recognize the Lord was the disciple whom Jesus loved, presumed to be St. John himself.
Jesus tells them were to cast the net and, indeed, they net a great number of fish (153 probably symbolic of universal mission of the Church - the total species of fish known at the time or the sum of numbers from 1-17). Peter is so excited he jumps in and swims to shore, discovering Jesus with a fish already cooking and bread, a Eucharistic reference.
When they are joined by the other disciples they were so overawed that they could not even speak. Then the Lord broke the bread.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
There is common lore that wives or daughters who get “famous” family recipes from their mothers or mothers in-law frequently receive those directions lacking an ingredient or step. When the dish is prepared by the one who receives it, it’s somehow not quite right. While there is generally a simple explanation (something was done by the originator that she never thought to include or even write down, a specific name brand was used, or even the utensils some how changed the dish) the end result was the beloved concoction was just not the same – not quite as good as remembered.
The same thing is true for the Christian when we get wrapped up in a task and forget that it is only with God’s help that we accomplish any good thing and it is only for his greater glory that worthwhile efforts should be attempted. The disciples, immediately following the resurrection, before the Christ left them the gift of the Holy Spirit, have that sense or appearance. In the Gospel today, they must have experienced something like déjà vu. They had experienced almost the same scenario when the Lord first called them – having him tell them, after an unsuccessful fishing outing to cast their nets in a certain place and miraculously being successful. But now they were alone and frightened. In spite of Jesus appearing to them previously, they still missed something. They thought it was the Lord’s physical presence, but as we have come to understand, it was not. They missed the mission, the purpose for their effort. They hand yet to take up what Christ had left them.
Like the missing ingredient, something was just not quite right. And we find ourselves in the same situation when we get wrapped up in our own abilities or missions and forget that it was only with Christ’s help that we were able to do or accomplish anything. When we finish a difficult task and look at the result with pride, we get that “missing ingredient” feeling of having done something for the wrong reasons; success just does not taste quite right.
Our annual Easter celebration should reinvigorate our sense of union with Christ. If what we were missing was the “cornerstone”, we find it as we recall that the Risen Christ is with us in all we do. He is our strength as well as our consolation and our salvation. On this, the fifth day of our great feast, let us all rededicate the important tasks or callings our lives hold for us to God’s Glory and give him thanks once more for the gift of his Son with whom all things are possible.
He is Risen!
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 4:1-12
After the crippled man had been cured,
while Peter and John were still speaking to the people,
the priests, the captain of the temple guard,
and the Sadducees confronted them,
disturbed that they were teaching the people
and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
They laid hands on Peter and John
and put them in custody until the next day,
since it was already evening.
But many of those who heard the word came to believe
and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes
were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest,
Caiaphas, John, Alexander,
and all who were of the high-priestly class.
They brought them into their presence and questioned them,
"By what power or by what name have you done this?"
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them,
"Leaders of the people and elders:
If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 4:1-12
This selection follows Peter and John as they proclaim Christ crucified and risen. As we hear today, their effective apology has now gained them an audience with Caiaphas and the rest of the Sanhedrin – the very same people who handed Jesus over to be crucified and Peter, having just performed a saving act in His name, reminds them with the famous cornerstone (in other versions the word used is “keystone” or “head of the corner”) speech using imagery from their own hymnal Psalm 118:22 coincidently used as our psalm response below.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27a
R. (22) The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His mercy endures forever."
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 118:1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27a
This litany of thanksgiving features the cornerstone image that, in addition to the Acts selection above, was also used in the Gospel of St. Mark (Mark 12:10) and the first epistle of St. Peter (1 Peter 2:7) (there are 9 other references in the NAB as well).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 21:1-14
Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing."
They said to him, "We also will come with you."
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?"
They answered him, "No."
So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something."
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord."
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat,
for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards,
dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you just caught."
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast."
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?"
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 21:1-14
The Gospel from St. John gives us the Lord’s third appearance to the disciples. Again he his not at first recognized. In typical Johannine fashion, the first to recognize the Lord was the disciple whom Jesus loved, presumed to be St. John himself.
Jesus tells them were to cast the net and, indeed, they net a great number of fish (153 probably symbolic of universal mission of the Church - the total species of fish known at the time or the sum of numbers from 1-17). Peter is so excited he jumps in and swims to shore, discovering Jesus with a fish already cooking and bread, a Eucharistic reference.
When they are joined by the other disciples they were so overawed that they could not even speak. Then the Lord broke the bread.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
There is common lore that wives or daughters who get “famous” family recipes from their mothers or mothers in-law frequently receive those directions lacking an ingredient or step. When the dish is prepared by the one who receives it, it’s somehow not quite right. While there is generally a simple explanation (something was done by the originator that she never thought to include or even write down, a specific name brand was used, or even the utensils some how changed the dish) the end result was the beloved concoction was just not the same – not quite as good as remembered.
The same thing is true for the Christian when we get wrapped up in a task and forget that it is only with God’s help that we accomplish any good thing and it is only for his greater glory that worthwhile efforts should be attempted. The disciples, immediately following the resurrection, before the Christ left them the gift of the Holy Spirit, have that sense or appearance. In the Gospel today, they must have experienced something like déjà vu. They had experienced almost the same scenario when the Lord first called them – having him tell them, after an unsuccessful fishing outing to cast their nets in a certain place and miraculously being successful. But now they were alone and frightened. In spite of Jesus appearing to them previously, they still missed something. They thought it was the Lord’s physical presence, but as we have come to understand, it was not. They missed the mission, the purpose for their effort. They hand yet to take up what Christ had left them.
Like the missing ingredient, something was just not quite right. And we find ourselves in the same situation when we get wrapped up in our own abilities or missions and forget that it was only with Christ’s help that we were able to do or accomplish anything. When we finish a difficult task and look at the result with pride, we get that “missing ingredient” feeling of having done something for the wrong reasons; success just does not taste quite right.
Our annual Easter celebration should reinvigorate our sense of union with Christ. If what we were missing was the “cornerstone”, we find it as we recall that the Risen Christ is with us in all we do. He is our strength as well as our consolation and our salvation. On this, the fifth day of our great feast, let us all rededicate the important tasks or callings our lives hold for us to God’s Glory and give him thanks once more for the gift of his Son with whom all things are possible.
He is Risen!
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used is “Appearance on Lake Tiberias” by Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308-11
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[2] The picture used is “Appearance on Lake Tiberias” by Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308-11
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
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