TUESday 18 APRIL

SAINT Laserian or Molaise

He was born in Ireland, became a monk on Iona, and was ordained priest in Rome by St Gregory the Great. He was active in promoting harmony between the Celtic and Roman churches on the date on which Easter should be celebrated.

Entrance Antiphon: Rv 19: 7, 6

Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to God, for the Lord our God the Almighty reigns, alleluia.

Collect

Enable us, we pray, almighty God, to proclaim the power of the risen Lord, that we, who have received the pledge of his gift, may come to possess all he gives when it is fully revealed. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

First reading: Acts 4:32-37

The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for his own use anything that he had, as everything they owned was held in common. The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and they were all given great respect. None of their members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from them, to present it to the apostles; it was then distributed to any members who might be in need. There was a Levite of Cypriot origin called Joseph whom the apostles surnamed Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’). He owned a piece of land and he sold it and brought the money, and presented it to the apostles.

Psalm 92:1-2, 5

R/ The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.

The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed; the Lord has robed himself with might, he has girded himself with power.

The world you made firm, not to be moved; your throne has stood firm from of old. From all eternity, O Lord, you are.

Truly your decrees are to be trusted. Holiness is fitting to your house, O Lord, until the end of time.

Gospel Acclamation: cf. Rv 1:5

Alleluia, alleluia! You, O Christ, are the faithful witness, the First-born from the dead, you have loved us and have washed away our sins with your blood. Alleluia!

Gospel: John 3:7-15

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Do not be surprised when I say: You must be born from above. The wind blows wherever it pleases; you hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. That is how it is with all who are born of the Spirit.” “How can that be possible?” asked Nicodemus. “You, a teacher in Israel, and you do not know these things!” replied Jesus. “I tell you most solemnly, we speak only about what we know and witness only to what we have seen and yet you people reject our evidence. If you do not believe me when I speak about things in this world, how are you going to believe me when I speak to you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man who is in heaven; and the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

Prayer over the Offerings

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that we may always find delight in these paschal mysteries, so that the renewal constantly at work within us may be the cause of our unending joy. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Cf. Lk 24: 46, 26

The Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory, alleluia.

Prayer after Communion

Hear, O Lord, our prayers, that this most holy exchange, by which you have redeemed us, may bring your help in this present life and ensure for us eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

Jesus said to Nicodemus, “For no one has ascended into heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man. As the bronze serpent was lifted up by Moses in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that in him everyone who believes may have eternal life.” (Jn 3:13) The prospect of Israel’s salvation that Jesus brings to Nicodemus is that of a messiah who will be lifted up on the cross to gather the children of God. It is on the cross that he will extend his arms to embrace all humanity and give the gift of eternal life to those who believe. This is what happens after his resurrection in the first Christian community: “the multitude of believers were of one heart and one soul. (Acts 4:32) God wants, in his Son, to unite all men and raise them all up to Him. That is why He has placed in our hearts a deep desire for Him and a deep aspiration for universal brotherhood. May we become daily messengers of the Gospel of love.