Monday of the Second Week of Easter
Readings for Monday of the Second Week of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 4:23-31
After their release Peter and John went back to their own people
and reported what the chief priests and elders had told them.
And when they heard it,
they raised their voices to God with one accord
and said, "Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth
and the sea and all that is in them,
you said by the Holy Spirit
through the mouth of our father David, your servant:
Why did the Gentiles rage
and the peoples entertain folly?
The kings of the earth took their stand
and the princes gathered together
against the Lord and against his anointed.
Indeed they gathered in this city
against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed,
Herod and Pontius Pilate,
together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
to do what your hand and your will
had long ago planned to take place.
And now, Lord, take note of their threats,
and enable your servants to speak your word
with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal,
and signs and wonders are done
through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook,
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 4:23-31
This selection from Acts picks up after Peter and John return from being threatened by the Sanhedrin for proclaiming Jesus and performing signs in His name. They are reminded of Psalm 2: 1-3 used today as the responsorial psalm. The passage concludes with their prayer for strength in continuing their work and the presence of an earth tremor taken to symbolize God’s presence and affirmative response.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9
R. (see 11d) Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples utter folly?
The kings of the earth rise up,
and the princes conspire together
against the LORD and against his anointed:
"Let us break their fetters
and cast their bonds from us!"
R. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He who is throned in heaven laughs;
the LORD derides them.
Then in anger he speaks to them;
he terrifies them in his wrath:
"I myself have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain."
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD.
R. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish."
R. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9
This is one of the “Royal Psalms”. While the Davidic peoples understood it as stating the King of Israel was preeminent among earthly rulers, Christians see the messianic meaning as it refers to Christ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 3:1-8
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
He came to Jesus at night and said to him,
"Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God,
for no one can do these signs that you are doing
unless God is with him."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
Nicodemus said to him,
"How can a man once grown old be born again?
Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?"
Jesus answered,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and Spirit
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh
and what is born of spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I told you,
'You must be born from above.'
The wind blows where it wills,
and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 3:1-8
The scripture shifts us now away from the post-resurrection events to the teachings of Jesus from the Gospel of St. John. During the Passover Feast, Jesus instructs Nicodemus on the need to turn away from the world of the flesh and focus instead on life in the Spirit of God.
This passage is filled with the images of the Christian baptismal calling “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” Placed in the Easter season, this can be seen as a reference to the Lord’s resurrection in the spirit. It further points out that the Holy Spirit is itself a mystery that cannot be fully fathomed by human understanding but its affects are quite apparent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
There is a common theatrical device for creating excitement, doubt and tension in the audience that is frequently used in mystery, horror, and science fiction that can be called – the unknown persona. That means the audience is not told who is good and who the true antagonist is until their motives become obvious in some overt action. For example if you have seen any of the early episodes of the Harry Potter series which is, for those who have not seen any of the movies or read the books, a fictional morality play. There is a character named “Professor Snape”, brilliantly played by Alan Rickman, who in various episodes is suspected of being evil but has the trust of one of the main heroes and is therefore possibly good. The dynamic tension between good and evil plays well in him. It is not until the most recent episode that his true character is revealed and even then, one is not positive that he is completely evil.
The point being made with this example is that art imitates life. In the theater, the audience is always shocked when someone thought to be good turns out to be evil. The same is true in life. We never know who follows Christ and who has aligned themselves with the forces of evil until some overt act exposes them. Our only hope is that about our own character there is not doubt.
In Jesus’ discourse with Nicodemus the Lord tells the Hebrew scholar that human motives and desires are obvious and the source of the actions that flow from them, i.e. self interest, are clear and understandable to all who embrace the human desires of the secular world. However, one who embraces God’s will, who has come from God, will be dominated by the Holy Spirit, an unseen and unknown motivation which while hidden from the natural eye, is obvious to the spiritual senses. Further, he explains to Nicodemus that this Holy Spirit is attainable by anyone who has the will to turn away from the secular motives of this world and recant – repent – turn away, and allow that spirit of holiness to provide them a different view of this world and the next.
We are reminded once more that the natural world and the spiritual world are at constant odds with one another. We are also reminded by the Lord that one who has allowed the Holy Spirit free will in their lives will show this character with actions that will be unmistakable. The love of God leaves visible marks that express themselves in outward acts which advance God’s Easter Mission. We pray today that we are so exposed to the world that there is no doubt – we serve the Lord!
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used is “Nicodemus and Jesus” by Alexandre Bida, 1874
[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.
Readings for Monday of the Second Week of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 4:23-31
After their release Peter and John went back to their own people
and reported what the chief priests and elders had told them.
And when they heard it,
they raised their voices to God with one accord
and said, "Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth
and the sea and all that is in them,
you said by the Holy Spirit
through the mouth of our father David, your servant:
Why did the Gentiles rage
and the peoples entertain folly?
The kings of the earth took their stand
and the princes gathered together
against the Lord and against his anointed.
Indeed they gathered in this city
against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed,
Herod and Pontius Pilate,
together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
to do what your hand and your will
had long ago planned to take place.
And now, Lord, take note of their threats,
and enable your servants to speak your word
with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal,
and signs and wonders are done
through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook,
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 4:23-31
This selection from Acts picks up after Peter and John return from being threatened by the Sanhedrin for proclaiming Jesus and performing signs in His name. They are reminded of Psalm 2: 1-3 used today as the responsorial psalm. The passage concludes with their prayer for strength in continuing their work and the presence of an earth tremor taken to symbolize God’s presence and affirmative response.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9
R. (see 11d) Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples utter folly?
The kings of the earth rise up,
and the princes conspire together
against the LORD and against his anointed:
"Let us break their fetters
and cast their bonds from us!"
R. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He who is throned in heaven laughs;
the LORD derides them.
Then in anger he speaks to them;
he terrifies them in his wrath:
"I myself have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain."
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD.
R. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish."
R. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9
This is one of the “Royal Psalms”. While the Davidic peoples understood it as stating the King of Israel was preeminent among earthly rulers, Christians see the messianic meaning as it refers to Christ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 3:1-8
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
He came to Jesus at night and said to him,
"Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God,
for no one can do these signs that you are doing
unless God is with him."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
Nicodemus said to him,
"How can a man once grown old be born again?
Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?"
Jesus answered,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and Spirit
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh
and what is born of spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I told you,
'You must be born from above.'
The wind blows where it wills,
and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 3:1-8
The scripture shifts us now away from the post-resurrection events to the teachings of Jesus from the Gospel of St. John. During the Passover Feast, Jesus instructs Nicodemus on the need to turn away from the world of the flesh and focus instead on life in the Spirit of God.
This passage is filled with the images of the Christian baptismal calling “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” Placed in the Easter season, this can be seen as a reference to the Lord’s resurrection in the spirit. It further points out that the Holy Spirit is itself a mystery that cannot be fully fathomed by human understanding but its affects are quite apparent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
There is a common theatrical device for creating excitement, doubt and tension in the audience that is frequently used in mystery, horror, and science fiction that can be called – the unknown persona. That means the audience is not told who is good and who the true antagonist is until their motives become obvious in some overt action. For example if you have seen any of the early episodes of the Harry Potter series which is, for those who have not seen any of the movies or read the books, a fictional morality play. There is a character named “Professor Snape”, brilliantly played by Alan Rickman, who in various episodes is suspected of being evil but has the trust of one of the main heroes and is therefore possibly good. The dynamic tension between good and evil plays well in him. It is not until the most recent episode that his true character is revealed and even then, one is not positive that he is completely evil.
The point being made with this example is that art imitates life. In the theater, the audience is always shocked when someone thought to be good turns out to be evil. The same is true in life. We never know who follows Christ and who has aligned themselves with the forces of evil until some overt act exposes them. Our only hope is that about our own character there is not doubt.
In Jesus’ discourse with Nicodemus the Lord tells the Hebrew scholar that human motives and desires are obvious and the source of the actions that flow from them, i.e. self interest, are clear and understandable to all who embrace the human desires of the secular world. However, one who embraces God’s will, who has come from God, will be dominated by the Holy Spirit, an unseen and unknown motivation which while hidden from the natural eye, is obvious to the spiritual senses. Further, he explains to Nicodemus that this Holy Spirit is attainable by anyone who has the will to turn away from the secular motives of this world and recant – repent – turn away, and allow that spirit of holiness to provide them a different view of this world and the next.
We are reminded once more that the natural world and the spiritual world are at constant odds with one another. We are also reminded by the Lord that one who has allowed the Holy Spirit free will in their lives will show this character with actions that will be unmistakable. The love of God leaves visible marks that express themselves in outward acts which advance God’s Easter Mission. We pray today that we are so exposed to the world that there is no doubt – we serve the Lord!
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used is “Nicodemus and Jesus” by Alexandre Bida, 1874
[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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