Today's Mass Readings - Sunday, April 19, 2015 with Reflection

1^ST READING - Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

13 Peter said to the people: “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our father, has glorified his  servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence, when he had decided to release him. 14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses. 17 Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did; 18 but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.”

P S A L M - Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9

R: Lord, let your face shine on us.

1 [2] When I call, answer me, O my just God, you who relieve me when I am in distress; have pity on me, and hear my prayer! (R) 3 [4] Know that the Lord does wonders for his faithful one; the Lord will hear me when I call upon him. (R) 6 [7] O Lord, let the light of your countenance shine upon us! 7 [8] You put gladness into my heart. (R) 8 [9] As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep, for you alone, O Lord, bring security to my dwelling. (R)

2^ND READING - 1 John 2:1-5

1 My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. 2 He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. 3The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. 4 Those who say, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments are liars, and the truth is not in them. 5But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn while you speak to us.

Luke 24:35-48

35 The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. 36 While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” 40 And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of baked fish; 43 he took it and ate it in front of them. 44 He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.”

SABBATH

MADE KNOWN IN THE BREAKING OF BREAD There was a time when footprints only had to do with real feet. As kids, we traced our foot in mud, on sand, or on the newly waxed wooden floor smudged by one’s dusty bare feet. After doing what every kid in the boonies used to do on Saturday mornings — that is, wax and polish the floor — we knew whose feet were the first to spoil our Saturday morning masterpiece. Footprints pointed to the careless and insensitive culprit in the household.        Today, we talk of carbon footprints, collective signs of humanity’s careless use and abuse of nature. As a certified  “provinciano” (from the province), I have seen the footprints that point to the progressive degradation of the environment in the name of ubiquitous development.        We also talk now of digital footprints. Our identities are embedded in cyberspace visible to digital sleuths. Our digital footprints are not only our trademarks. They are also the benchmark of who we are in cyberspace, and our impact on the digital natives. Our digital imprints are unique.        Footprints, whether real or virtual, show who we are and manifest our unique selves. Those in the know, those closest to us, those who belong to the right crowd, can tell easily if it is us or someone else masquerading as us, just by looking at our footprints.        The two disciples on the way to Emmaus suffered from a memory lapse. Grief, sorrow and disappointment may have blinded them for a while. The Lord did His trademark preaching and explaining, using texts from Scripture. But it was when He did His benchmark act of memorial that everything made sense to the grieving disciples. “Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” This was the Risen Lord at His trademark and benchmark best! This was the Savior in His unique spiritual, Eucharistic and unmistakable imprint. “It is the Lord!” Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Whose footprints are you following in your life? Is it safe for others to follow the footsteps you leave behind? Lord, how good it is that You have left us Your footprints — the Eucharist — to forever nourish us and guide us in our journey. Blessed Luchesio and Buonadonna, pray for us. Do you want to receive this in your email. To get Bo Sanchez to send it to you personally, register and log-on to http://kerygmafamily.com.