The Father Loves The Son

APRIL 20, 2023 THURSDAY
Thursday of the Second Week of Easter (White)
CYCLE A - YEAR I
Lectionary: 270

Reading 1
Acts 5:27-33

When the court officers had brought the Apostles in
and made them stand before the Sanhedrin,
the high priest questioned them,
"We gave you strict orders did we not,
to stop teaching in that name.
Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching
and want to bring this man's blood upon us."
But Peter and the Apostles said in reply,
"We must obey God rather than men.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior
to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
We are witnesses of these things,
as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."
When they heard this,
they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20

R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.

The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia

Jn 20:29

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Jn 3:31-36

The one who comes from above is above all.
The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.
But the one who comes from heaven is above all.
He testifies to what he has seen and heard,
but no one accepts his testimony.
Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.
For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.
He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.
The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life,
but the wrath of God remains upon him.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

“God gives Him(Jesus) the Spirit without reserve.”(Jn 3:34) If we want to know what a human person might look like if everything they did was done under the influence of the Spirit, we only have to look at Jesus in all his relationships: his obedience to his Father as a young man in the temple, living under the authority of his parents in Nazareth, his openness to the unpopular tax collector, Zachaeus, his forgiveness of the good thief on the cross.

In every generation down to our own, men and women have prayed to the Spirit for guidance, for inspiration, for the strength to follow the Lord. “Spirit of the Living God fall afresh on us.... Come O Creator Spirit come....”How the Lord longs that we receive the Spirit. “If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Lk 11:13) Ask the Lord today for the gift of his Holy Spirit!

PRAYER:

Lord, you alone can satisfy the longing of my heart. Confirm my personal faith and commitment to you. May the example of my life invite others to believe in you.