Mary Of The Angelus Association

13.4.2010  TUESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER

Also the Feast of St. Martin I, pope and martyr.

MEDITATION based on the readings for to-day’s Mass.

These readings can be found in your bible or daily missal.

FIRST READING: From the Acts of the Apostles.  Chapter 4: 32-37

“The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and they were all given great respect.”

RESPONSE TO THE PSALM:  “The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty”

PSALM 2: verses 1-9

“Holiness is fitting to your house, O Lord, until the end of time.”

GOSPEL: John chapter 3: verses 7-15

“The Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him”

The Cross on which Jesus was lifted up is venerated when we make the Sign of the Cross: For the Trinity, for the Crucifixion of Jesus: as a reminder of God’s love for us. 

Many Christians wear a cross as a sign of their faith, to witness to Jesus.

“Christians in China have a special love for the Cross, having experienced so many trials for being followers of Jesus.  Their story of recent decades is movingly told in the excellent DVD: ‘The Cross – Jesus in China’ available free on line.”  From “Shalom” page 126 Vol 25 No. 4 April 2010, Kuala Lumpur. 

Go to www. The Cross - Jesus in China dvd for details on how to obtain this DVD, or to www.chinasoul.com/e/cross-news.htm for the beautiful Canaan hymns now being sung as Christian praise all over China.

St. Martin 1 was elected Pope in 649.  He convened a Church Council to fight the Monothelite heresy which denied the dual nature of Jesus, both human and divine.  This brought him into conflict with the Emperor Constant II who condemned Martin to a martyr's death. Today is his feast day.