Reflections on the Daily Readings 18th April 2022
Monday 18th April
Monday Within The Octave Of Easter
How do you solve a mystery named Mary?
There are so many women named Mary mentioned in the New Testament that we’re not even certain how many there were—could be six to nine—because the same women might be identified different ways. The various Marys get mentioned 54 times in 49 verses, so it’s hard to sort them all out. Not only does it reveal to readers that Mary was a popular name then, but also that Jesus had a lot of women followers who were very close to him—women who were key figures in the key moments of his life and ministry, his death, and his Resurrection. Which Mary was which might confuse us today, but their various important roles in his life are clearly deserving of honour.
Today's readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Matthew 28:8-15
“Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb . . . and ran to announce the news to his disciples.”
Tuesday 19th April
Tuesday Within The Octave Of Easter
Grant us peace
Today is the anniversary of Benedict XVI becoming pope in 2005. As a theologian, Benedict wrote extensively of faith and politics in pluralistic societies. One of his prayers pleads: “God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world: peace in the hearts of all men and women and peace among the nations of the Earth.” This is a good prayer to have on hand, particularly on a day that marks the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
Today's readings: Acts 2:36-41; John 20:11-18
“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ ”
Wednesday 20th April
Wednesday Within The Octave Of Easter
Look up!
The disciples on the road to Emmaus were grieving Jesus but failed to recognize him when he approached them. In our daily rush to and fro, it is easy to overlook what is happening all around: the dance of creation, day in and day out. As Earth Day approaches, take a moment from the busyness to contemplate with awe the beauty great and small. Keep these words of Saint Augustine in mind about the book of God’s creation: “Look above you! Look below you! Read it. God, whom you want to discover, never wrote that book with ink. Instead, He set before your eyes the things that He had made. Can you ask for a louder voice than that?”
Today's readings: Acts 3:1-10; Luke 24:13-35
“Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.”
Thursday 21st April
Thursday Within The Octave Of Easter
Journey into the unknown
The worldwide church is now about halfway through a process with a rather unwieldy name: “Synod on Synodality.” The idea is for the church at all levels to “listen and dialogue.” The word synod means “to travel together,” and this synod is refreshing, as a bottom-up approach in a church accustomed to top-down leadership. By its nature, there is no clarity about where it leads, but the process itself is the main point. Let’s pray the church’s Synod Prayer for Unity, that the process “lead us closer to [God’s] Son and so to one another.”
Today's readings: Acts 3:11-26; Luke 24:35-48 (264).
“He stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ ”
Friday 22nd April
Friday Within The Octave Of Easter
Embrace the Resurrection: Plant a garden
The Easter season gives us ample time and resources to delve into the Paschal Mystery. Scripture, liturgies, and feast days all help us embrace the Resurrection as part of our own story. That’s not always easy to comprehend. Fortunately, there are glimpses of Resurrection everywhere! So much of Easter is represented through nature—lilies, tulips, lambs, bunnies—indeed the whole season of spring helps us bodily embrace the Resurrection. This Easter season, consider planting a garden or fostering a kitten (April is National Garden Month as well as Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, and today happens to be Earth Day as well!). Embrace the Resurrection in the world all around you.
Today's readings: Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14
“Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.”
Saturday 23rd April
Saturday Within The Octave Of Easter
Every day an Easter
Easter isn’t just a day, it is a season, an ongoing feast. The Octave of Easter (Easter Sunday and the seven days that follow) has been, since the earliest centuries of Christian history, a time of extended celebration. The joy of Easter Sunday is prolonged for a full eight days, an octave of rejoicing. Every day of the Octave is treated as another Easter, a tradition preserved in our liturgy, with readings and rituals that mirror what occurs on Easter Sunday. Rise up! It’s still Easter!
Today's readings: Acts 4:13-21; Mark 16:9-15 (266).
“When Jesus had risen . . . he appeared first to Mary Magdalene.”
