COME TO THE LIGHT…

Acts 5:17-26

17 But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy
18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison.19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and taught. Now the high priest came and those who were with him and called together the council and all the senate of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported,
23 “We found the prison securely locked and the sentries standing at the doors, but when we opened it we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
25 And some one came and told them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

John 3:16-21

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
18 He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.  

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING recount the arrest and incarceration of the apostles, motivated by the jealous Sadducees who witnessesed the healing miracles they performed. Christ added salt to injury, when He freed the Apostles and ordered them to return to the temple, face their enemies and preach the Good News. 

Astounded and bemused by the supernatural signs and the fearlesness of the Apostles, the temple officials acted more charitable, fearing the possibility that the people would turn on them. 

St JOHN THE APOSTLE found it nessesary to untangle the mystery of Christ’s death and ressurection. Christs meritorious act of grace is borne out of the awesome supendous love that God has for man, to the extent that He desire that not one of His created children should perish and be lost.

We who are in darkness, imprisoned by our own sins are called to seek the light of Christ, implying that we have an opportunity to have all our sins forgiven, no matter how treacherous or disordered it may have been! Rightly understood, we are called to step into the light and be reconciled to Christ by an apostolic minister (2 Cor 4:1; 5:18); ‘in persona christi’; who have received the divine faculties to forgive; wash-away our sins, however shameful it may have been, so we may receive the light of Christ and be freed from bondage! Jn 20:20-23

LET US PRAY: Psalms 34:2-9
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 O taste and see that the LORD is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him! 9 O fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want!

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.