Daily Mass Readings – Friday, 21 April 2028

1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the officer of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead:

3 And they laid hands upon them, and put them in hold till the next day; for it was now evening.

4 But many of them who had heard the word, believed; and the number of the men was made five thousand.

5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their princes, and ancients, and scribes, were gathered together in Jerusalem;

6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest.

7 And setting them in the midst, they asked: By what power, or by what name, have you done this?

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them: Ye princes of the people, and ancients, hear:

9 If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he hath been made whole:

10 Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by him this man standeth here before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.

R. (22) The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

or

R. Alleluia.

1 Give praise to Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Let Israel now say that he is good: that his mercy endureth for ever.

4 Let them that fear the Lord now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

or

R. Alleluia.

22 The stone which the builders rejected; the same is become the head of the corner.

23 This is the Lord’s doing: and it is wonderful in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us be glad and rejoice therein.

R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

or

R. Alleluia.

25 O Lord, save me: O Lord, give good success.

26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name Lord. We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.

27a The Lord is God, and he hath shone upon us.

R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

or

R. Alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

1 After this, Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. And he shewed himself after this manner.

2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, who is called Didymus, and Nathanael, who was of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.

3 Simon Peter saith to them: I go a fishing. They say to him: We also come with thee. And they went forth, and entered into the ship: and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

5 Jesus therefore said to them: Children, have you any meat? They answered him: No.

6 He saith to them: Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find. They cast therefore; and now they were not able to draw it, for the multitude of fishes.

7 That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved, said to Peter: It is the Lord. Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat about him, (for he was naked,) and cast himself into the sea.

8 But the other disciples came in the ship, (for they were not far from the land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

9 As soon then as they came to land, they saw hot coals lying, and a fish laid thereon, and bread.

10 Jesus saith to them: Bring hither of the fishes which you have now caught.

11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty-three. And although there were so many, the net was not broken.

12 Jesus saith to them: Come, and dine. And none of them who were at meat, durst ask him: Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

13 And Jesus cometh and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish in like manner.

14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to his disciples, after he was risen from the dead.

The disciples spend the night working and catch nothing. At daybreak, the risen Jesus stands on the shore and directs them to cast the net again. Their obedience reveals what their own effort could not accomplish: the net fills, and they recognize, “It is the Lord.” The same Christ who feeds them by the fire is the one whose name heals the infirm man and gives courage to Peter before the authorities.

Jesus is the rejected stone who has become the cornerstone. What human beings dismiss, God establishes as the source of life and salvation. The disciples’ empty net and Peter’s imprisonment both become places where the power of the risen Lord is revealed. Christian faith rests on this living Christ, not on human success or approval. His word deserves obedience even when the first results seem fruitless, and his name can be proclaimed even when it meets resistance. The day the Lord has made is still a day for gladness: Christ is present, he provides what is needed, and he gathers his people into one unbroken net.

Risen Jesus, stand beside us in the ordinary work of this day and teach us to hear your voice. When our efforts seem empty, give us humility to follow your word. When we face opposition, fill us with the Holy Spirit, as you filled Peter, so that we may speak your name with courage and love. Keep us close to you, our true cornerstone, and gather our scattered hearts into faithful communion. Thank you for feeding us with your life and for making our weakness a place where your power can be seen. May we rejoice in the day you have made. Amen.