Mary Of The Angelus Association

14.4.2010 WEDNESDAY of the Second Week of Easter

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 book of the Acts of the Apostles chapter 5: verses 17-26

“The men you have put into prison are in the temple preaching to the people”

The Angel of the Lord released the apostles from gaol and told them to go to the Temple and preach.  “Tell the people all about this new Life”.

 The Sanhedrin, the full Senate of Israel, met and called for the prisoners. The officials told them “We found the gates securely locked and the warders on duty at the gates, but when we unlocked the door, we found no-one inside.” ... “At this very moment the men you imprisoned are in the Temple” ... “The captain and his men went to fetch them.  They were afraid to use force in case the people stoned them.”

The faith of the Apostles, this new Life was the core of their being.  It is wonderful to read in Acts the stories of their valour, courage and living examples of God’s power and love.  Many thousands came to believe through their example.

The Lord is calling on us as 21^st century Christians to do the same.  Pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace to be the apostles the Lord wants us to be.  Then, hang on to your hat!  The roller coaster ride of God’s power  is ready to take off...

RESPONSE to the Psalm:  “The Lord hears the cry of the poor.” 

The Psalms were meant to be sung, and even danced to, by the people, with orchestra and choir.  These 150 amazing liturgical works of art come to us from the time of King David.  At every mass, in the liturgy of the Word, one of the Psalms is sung or spoken.   The response, like to-day’s above, is sung at the end of each stanza.  So get out your tambourine, or drum, or flute or electric guitar and sing the Psalm to our God of music and dance.  You don’t know the tunes? Make up the music, sing your own song.  That is how plainchant or plainsong came about; the beginning of all Western music.

PSALM 33(34) verses 2-9

“Taste and see that the Lord is good.  He is happy who seeks refuge in him”

GOSPEL  of St. John chapter 3: verses 16 -21

“God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,

So that everyone who believes in him may not be lost

But may have  eternal life.”

What does this mean?  Do we yawn as we read this?  Let the words sink in. Block out earthly distractions and cares.  “I have to rush, can’t stay reading this” O Lord, we pray for all of us who read this meditation, that Your Word may enter our souls, and set us on fire.