Whom should I fear? - 17-04-2026

Published on April 16, 2026

Friday of the Second week of Easter

First Reading

Acts 5,34-42.

A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel,
a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up,
ordered the Apostles to be put outside for a short time,
and said to them, "Fellow children of Israel, be careful
what you are about to do to these men.
Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important,
and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed,
and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing.
After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census.
He also drew people after him, but he too perished
and all who were loyal to him were scattered.
So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men,
and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity
is of human origin, it will destroy itself.
But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them;
you may even find yourselves fighting against God."
They were persuaded by him.
After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged,
ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.
So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing
that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes,
they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus.

 

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 27(26),1.4.13-14.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?

One thing I ask of the LORD
this I seek:
to dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
that I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.  

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

 

Gospel

John 6,1-15.

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him, because they saw
the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd
was coming to him, he said to Philip,
"Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?"
He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him, "Two hundred days' wages worth
of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little (bit)."
One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?
Jesus said, "Have the people recline." Now there was a great deal
of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them
to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
"Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted."
So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets
with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
"This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
 to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

 

YOUCAT Reflection

 102 Why are we too supposed to accept suffering in our lives and thus "take up our cross" and thereby follow Jesus?

Christians should not seek suffering, but when they are confronted with unavoidable suffering, it can become meaningful for them if they unite their sufferings with the sufferings of Christ, "Christ ... suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (1 Pet 2,21).

Jesus said, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mk 8,34). Christians have the task of alleviating suffering in the world. Nevertheless, there will still be suffering. In faith we can accept our own suffering and share the suffering of others. In this way human suffering becomes united with the redeeming love of Christ and thus part of the divine power that changes the world for the better.

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