Here are the Bible Book(s)/Chapter(s) to read each day this week. Note that the readings are based on the New American Bible. 

Easter Sunday, April 20

Matthew 25:31-46, 28:16-20

Today we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. 

It is a time to rejoice in His triumph of good over evil.

In today’s readings, Jesus calls us both to reach out to others to provide practical life-sustaining assistance and to teach them according to what He taught His disciples.

Ask God to help us celebrate this day wholeheartedly and to let the joy of the Lord fuel our efforts in honouring His call to serve those around us.

Which activities bring you joy? Are you engaging in these activities enough to sustain your work in serving God?

Day 304 – Monday, April 21

Acts Chapters 3-4

Read Acts 3:6, 3:16 and 4:8-10 again.

All these verses tell us about how powerful the name of Jesus is when used with reverence and faith. 

Ask God to help us to keep the name of Jesus sacred and to use its power to bring blessings to others.

How do you hear the name of Jesus being used? Is it respected as a holy name?

Day 305 – Tuesday, April 22

Acts Chapters 5-7

Read Acts 5:33-39 again.

Gamaliel, a prominent member of the Pharisees, had special gifts. He was able to remain calm and be persuasive in an explosive environment and was respected by all the people.

Ask God to give us calming voices, like Gamaliel’s, when we find ourselves in emotionally charged situations.

Why do you think that everyone respected Gamaliel? Take a little time to study Gamaliel’s choice of words and how he presented his case. Is there anything that you can apply from his communication strategy to your life?

Day 306 – Wednesday, April 23

Acts Chapters 8-10

Read Acts 9:1-9 again. Paul, at the time named Saul, encountered Jesus through a flash of light from Heaven that blinded Paul’s physical eyes for three days, but opened his spiritual eyes to acknowledge Jesus as Lord.

Ask God to give us spiritual vision so that we can see what God is teaching us in difficult situations.

Why do you think God took away Paul’s ability to see for three days? Have you ever had to depend on anyone as Paul did, when his companions led him by the hand to Damascus? Is there a relationship between how independent we feel and how much attention we give to God?

Day 307 – Thursday, April 24

Acts Chapters 11-14

Read Acts 13:9-10 and 14:9-10 again.

These verses tell us that Paul took a very good look at the people with whom he was dealing. In one person, he saw good faith. In the other, he saw a deceptive spirit.

Ask God to help us to take a good look at the people in our lives to see who they really are.

Are the faces of the people close to you so familiar that you have stopped really looking at them? When you look at yourself in the mirror, whom do you see?

Day 308 – Friday, April 25

Acts Chapters 15-17

Read Acts 15:1-12 again.

As we see in today’s reading, some members of a powerful group within the early Church, the Pharisees, argued that every Christian male should be circumcised, as they themselves were, in order to be saved. However, Peter declared that people were saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus and circumcision was not required.

Ask God to give wisdom and discernment to all Church leaders in guiding the faithful in how to practise the faith.

In your faith community, do the music, art, food and other elements of communal life reflect the presence of each ethnic and linguistic group?

Day 309 – Saturday, April 26

Acts Chapters 18-20

Read Acts 20:7-12 again. A young man named Eutychus fell asleep while listening to Paul speak.

Ask God to help us to be fully present to God and to others, in every place.

Are you ever like Eutychus, having problems staying alert, for example, at school, at work or at Mass? What can you do to keep more engaged in what is going on around you?