Breaking the Word

4^th week in Easter Time, Friday – 26^th April 2024 – Acts 13,26-33; Jn 14,1-6

Fulfillment of Promises

The first reading records one of Paul’s most important sermons, demonstrating Jesus as the Messiah. He summarizes the paschal mysteries of Jesus’s suffering, death and resurrection as fulfillment of salvation history. Paul shows how these events fulfill the Hebrew Scriptures and reveal the close relationship between Jesus and His Father. He makes it clear that the inhabitants and the leaders of Jerusalem failed to recognize the true identity of Jesus as the expected Messiah and as the promised Son of David. In doing what they did, they were only fulfilling the well-known words of the Old Testament Prophets. Paul emphasizes that it is the expected fulfilment of everything that was prophesied. Jesus is the expected climax to the history of God’s people. God fulfills his promises to Abraham and his promise to David by raising up Jesus. Because the risen Jesus is an eternally living son of David, whose reign will never end, he unconditionally fulfills the promise that David’s throne will stand forever (2 Sam 7,13). By his resurrection, Christ was enthroned as Messiah, and from then on, his human nature enjoyed all the privileges of the Son of God.

Mark, the Evangelist, Thursday – 25^th April 2024 – 1 Peter 5,5-14; Mark 16, 15-20

Drawing Others Through Witness

John Mark was the son of Mary of Jerusalem (Acts 12,12). His mother was highly esteemed in the early church, and her house served as a meeting place for Christians in Jerusalem. He was a cousin of Barnabas (Col 4,10), and the author of the second Gospel. As an early convert, he accompanied Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey. For some reason, Mark abandoned them on the mission and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13,13). In the second missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas disagreed about taking Mark with them. However, Mark continued with Barnabas on a mission to Cyprus (Acts 15,39-41). Later, Mark reconciled with Paul and was imprisoned with him in Rome (Philem 24; 2 Tim 4,11). Mark was also a good friend of Peter and he called him “my son” (1 Pet 5,13). When Peter was released from prison by angel, he rushed to Mark’s house (Acts 12,12-17). Mark was the interpreter for Peter and wrote down Peter’s teaching in Mark’s Gospel. After the death of Peter, Mark went to Alexandria in Egypt and was the first bishop there.

Today’s Gospel is the conclusion of the Gospel according to Mark, with the command of the Risen Lord to the disciples to proclaim the good news to all nations. Jesus’ disciples and apostles will speak his words and perform God’s wonderful deeds as they announce and evangelize. They are challenged to go beyond their fear and with confidence trusting in the power of the Lord. The Risen Lord will accompany them everywhere and their witness will draw all peoples to the Lord.