Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter

Readings of the day: RB 63:1-9 Community Order

Mass: Ac 8:1b-8; Resp Ps 66; Jn 6:35-40

LET MY MOUTH BE FILLED WITH YOUR PRAISE, THAT I MAY SING ALOUD;

MY LIPS SHALL SHOUT FOR JOY, WHEN I SING TO YOU, ALLELUIA.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

There is intensity in today’s scene from the Acts of the Apostles: severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem; believers scattered throughout the countryside, except the Apostles; the devout bury the martyr Stephen—meanwhile Saul forcefully tries to destroy the Church.

Undaunted, the scattered go about preaching the word; Philip heads for Samaria and proclaims the Christ; the crowds hear and see signs; they pay attention; unclean spirits cry out in a loud voice; they come out of the possessed; the paralyzed and crippled are cured—there was great joy in the city!

LET ALL THE EARTH CRY OUT TO GOD WITH JOY!

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,

sing praise to his glorious name;

proclaim his glorious praise.

Say to God, ‘How tremendous are your deeds!’

(Resp Ps 66)

‘REJOICE AND BE GLAD’ (Mt 5:12),

Jesus tells those persecuted or humiliated for his sake.

The Lord asks everything of us,

and in return he offers us true life, the happiness for which we were created.

He wants us to be saints and not settle for a bland and mediocre existence.

(Gaudete et Exsultate, 1)