ACTS 5:17-26

The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, "Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life." When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the jail to have them brought in. But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported, "We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside." When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were at a loss about them, as to what this would come to. Then someone came in and reported to them, "The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people." Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

JOHN 3:16-21

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

All the readings today have the same message: God delivers us. In the first reading from Acts, the Apostles were physically imprisoned, and the angel of the Lord released them from their bonds, delivered them from the prison and from the hands of those who would harm them.

The Psalm echoes that by saying that the Lord hears the cry of the poor. Those who believe in the Lord and call to Him will be aided. He will not abandon his own. But first there must be a request. The first message the delivery is physical and immediate — taking the apostles out of the jail. The analysis can be taken physically or symbolically — the Lord hears and answers the cries of the poor.

The Gospel goes even beyond that. Jesus is the ultimate delivery! When God gave to the people on earth His only begotten son, He was delivering us in the ultimate manner. Only through Jesus could people understand God and ultimately go to heaven. Whether we are physically delivered, as the apostles from the prison, through Jesus we are ultimately delivered. Only through belief in Jesus is there salvation. And only through a request for that salvation.

During the Easter season we acknowledge the sacrifice and celebrate the resurrection. The delivery has been made; it’s up to us to accept it.

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Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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