Monday in the 3rd Week of Easter
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 6:8-15
Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus. Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them, they could say nothing in reply. So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, and conferred with one another, saying, “What are we to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign was done through them, and we cannot deny it. But so that it may not be spread any further among the people, let us give them a stern warning never again to speak to anyone in this name.” So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people who were all praising God for what had happened.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30 (R.1ab)
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Though princes meet and talk against me,
your servant meditates on your statutes.
Yes, your decrees are my delight;
they are my counselors. R.
I declared my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your statutes.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds. R.
Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me. R.
Gospel – Jn 6:22-29
After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw Him walking on the sea. The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found Him across the sea they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for Me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him the Father, God, has set his seal.” So they said to Him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one He sent.”
Featured Saints
St. Damien de Veuster, priest (†1889). Religious of the Congregation of Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He dedicated himself to serving the lepers on the island of Molokai, Hawaii, and died as a victim of the disease. Commemorated on May 10 in the US.
St. Paternus (St. Padarn), bishop (†c. 565). Monk from Gaul; he dedicated himself to the evangelization of pagans, founded many monasteries and was elected Bishop of Avranches, France, when he was in his 70s.
St. Ortaire, abbot (†sixth century). He led a life of austerity and prayer in the monastery of Landelles, France, and generously aided to the poor and sick.
St. Crescens of Myra, martyr of the fourth century in Myra (Turkey).
Blessed César de Bus, priest (†1607). After leaving the world, he founded the Congregation of the Fathers of Christian Doctrine in Avignon, France, with the goal of instructing children, the poor and rural people in Catholic doctrine, under attack by the Protestant Reformation.
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