April 1, 2024

Reading

The Acts of the Apostles 2:14, 2:22-33

2:14	But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and he spoke to them: “Men of Judea, and all those who are staying in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and incline your ears to my words.
2:15	For these men are not inebriated, as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the day.
2:16	But this is what was spoken of by the prophet Joel:
2:17	‘And this shall be: in the last days, says the Lord, I will pour out, from my Spirit, upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. And your youths shall see visions, and your elders shall dream dreams.
2:18	And certainly, upon my men and women servants in those days, I will pour out from my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
2:19	And I will bestow wonders in heaven above, and signs on earth below: blood and fire and the vapor of smoke.
2:20	The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and manifest day of the Lord arrives.
2:21	And this shall be: whoever shall invoke the name of the Lord will be saved.’
2:22	Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus the Nazarene is a man confirmed by God among you through the miracles and wonders and signs that God accomplished through him in your midst, just as you also know.
2:23	This man, under the definitive plan and foreknowledge of God, was delivered by the hands of the unjust, afflicted, and put to death.
2:24	And he whom God has raised up has broken the sorrows of Hell, for certainly it was impossible for him to be held by it.
2:25	For David said about him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always in my sight, for he is at my right hand, so that I may not be moved.
2:26	Because of this, my heart has rejoiced, and my tongue has exulted. Moreover, my flesh shall also rest in hope.
2:27	For you will not abandon my soul to Hell, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption.
2:28	You have made known to me the ways of life. You will completely fill me with happiness by your presence.’
2:29	Noble brothers, permit me to speak freely to you about the Patriarch David: for he passed away and was buried, and his sepulcher is with us, even to this very day.
2:30	Therefore, he was a prophet, for he knew that God had sworn an oath to him about the fruit of his loins, about the One who would sit upon his throne.
2:31	Foreseeing this, he was speaking about the Resurrection of the Christ. For he was neither left behind in Hell, nor did his flesh see corruption.
2:32	This Jesus, God raised up again, and of this we are all witnesses.
2:33	Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the Promise of the Holy Spirit, he poured this out, just as you now see and hear.

Gospel according to Matthew 28: 8 – 15

28:8	And they went out of the tomb quickly, with fear and in great joy, running to announce it to his disciples.
28:9	And behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Hail.” But they drew near and took hold of his feet, and they adored him.
28:10	Then Jesus said to them: “Do not be afraid. Go, announce it to my brothers, so that they may go to Galilee. There they shall see me.”
28:11	And when they had departed, behold, some of the guards went into the city, and they reported to the leaders of the priests all that had happened.
28:12	And gathering together with the elders, having taken counsel, they gave an abundant sum of money to the soldiers,
28:13	saying: “Say that his disciples arrived at night and stole him away, while we were sleeping.
28:14	And if the procurator hears about this, we will persuade him, and we will protect you.”
28:15	Then, having accepted the money, they did as they were instructed. And this word has been spread among the Jews, even to this day.