{"id":240506,"date":"2016-04-23T15:16:12","date_gmt":"2016-04-23T20:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/?p=240506"},"modified":"2016-05-02T16:07:40","modified_gmt":"2016-05-02T21:07:40","slug":"sunday-says-podcast-april-23-2016-mass-readings-reflections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2016\/04\/sunday-says-podcast-april-23-2016-mass-readings-reflections\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Says Podcast – April 24, 2016 Mass Readings and Reflections"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SundaySaysPodcast-logo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Fifth Sunday of Easter<\/span><\/p>\n

Sunday April 24, 2016<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Lectionary: 54 (<\/span>NAB Translation<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reading 1<\/b><\/p>\n

Acts 14:21-27<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

In this week\u2019s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas continue their first missionary journey where they experience both opposition and acceptance in their efforts to evangelize.\u00a0 Through preaching, prayer, and fasting they are able to spread the gospel rapidly as they make new disciples and encourage them to persevere in the hostile environment.\u00a0 We also see the beginnings of the ministerial priesthood as elders are appointed to govern the local churches. They will teach through example that, just as Jesus warned, the Christian life is not easy.<\/p>\n

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Responsorial Psalm<\/b><\/p>\n

Psalm 145:8-13<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

The response for this Psalm is:\u00a0 “I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.”<\/p>\n

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Reading 2<\/b><\/p>\n

Revelation 21:1-5<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

In this week\u2019s reading from the 21st chapter of Revelation, we hear of the ultimate effect of Christ’s resurrection over all of creation.\u00a0 Because the “original” creation has been stained with mortality because of human sin, God will create a new heaven and a new earth that will be free from the pain, suffering, death, and other corruption caused by sin. Through Christ’s resurrection, the whole universe is being healed.\u00a0 In Christ’s victory over death we too have the hope of a new body that can never die again.<\/p>\n

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Gospel<\/b><\/p>\n

John 13:31-33,34-35<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

In this week\u2019s Gospel from St. John, \u00a0Jesus gives His disciples one “new” commandment: “to love one another<\/strong>.”\u00a0\u00a0 It might seem that “to love one another” is not really a “new” commandment, since even in the Old Testament we are told to love both God and neighbor.\u00a0 However, Jesus is no longer talking about mere human<\/i> love.\u00a0 This new love is a divine<\/i> love like Christ’s own love.\u00a0 It is a love that is willing to lay down one’s life for the sake of others.\u00a0 Indeed this is the very form of love that will be the single most distinguishing mark of His followers.<\/p>\n

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Gospel\u00a0Reflection from Bishop Vasquez<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Consider using the following meditation for the Fifth Sunday of Easter (April 24):<\/p>\n