Wisdom

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/041915.cfm) reminds me that we should always pray for wisdom to know God more.

When we read a book, we remember things. We memorize things. That’s how we learn, how we understand what we are reading. That’s intellectual reading. However, today we are reminded that worldly intelligence is different from spiritual intelligence. Reading and understanding a book is different from reading and understanding the bible.

In the gospel, we see Jesus appearing again after his resurrection. He ate with them and explained the scripture to them. But probably one if the great things he did was he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. This had a lasting effect on them, as we in the first and second reading how the disciples worked for God’s kingdom. This also tells us that understanding Scriptures is not based purely on experience or on reading. They probably read the scriptures a lot. And had first hand experience of Jesus for three years.  Yet, it was when Jesus opened their minds that they understood scriptures.

May we be reminded that scripture reading is not like book reading. As we read the bible, let us pray that God would open our hearts and minds to understand him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for another Sunday. Lord, thank you for the reminder. I am sorry for the times I treat scripture reading as a normal book reading. Sorry for using just my mind, and not my spirit as I read your word.  Help me know you more, and understand you the way you want to be understood. Open my heart and my mind that I may know you more. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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April 19, 2015

Third Sunday of Easter

Lectionary: 47

Reading 1 Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

Peter said to the people:

“The God of Abraham,

the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,

the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus,

whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence

when he had decided to release him.

You denied the Holy and Righteous One

and asked that a murderer be released to you.

The author of life you put to death,

but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.

Now I know, brothers,

that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did;

but God has thus brought to fulfillment

what he had announced beforehand

through the mouth of all the prophets,

that his Christ would suffer.

Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9

R. (7a) Lord, let your face shine on us.

or:

R. Alleluia.

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. Lord, let your face shine on us.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one;

the LORD will hear me when I call upon him.

R. Lord, let your face shine on us.

or:

R. Alleluia.

O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!

You put gladness into my heart.

R. Lord, let your face shine on us.

or:

R. Alleluia.

As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep,

for you alone, O LORD,

bring security to my dwelling.

R. Lord, let your face shine on us.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 1 Jn 2:1-5a

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.

He is expiation for our sins,

and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.

The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep

his commandments.

Those who say, “I know him,” but do not keep his commandments

are liars, and the truth is not in them.

But whoever keeps his word,

the love of God is truly perfected in him.

Alleluia cf. Lk 24:32

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us;

make our hearts burn while you speak to us.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 24:35-48

The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way,

and how Jesus was made known to them

in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this,

he stood in their midst and said to them,

“Peace be with you.”

But they were startled and terrified

and thought that they were seeing a ghost.

Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled?

And why do questions arise in your hearts?

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.”

And as he said this,

he showed them his hands and his feet.

While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed,

he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?”

They gave him a piece of baked fish;

he took it and ate it in front of them.

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.”

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

And he said to them,

“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer

and rise from the dead on the third day

and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,

would be preached in his name

to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

You are witnesses of these things.”