April 10, 2024
by Suzanne Braddock
Creighton University - retired
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Celebrating Easter Resources

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer

The first reading from John finds the Apostles locked in jail, forbidden from preaching the Good News. I imagine them singing and praying in their confinement. They are due to be brought before the full court in the morning. Perhaps they will be sentenced to death. In spite of their uncertain future, I am sure they feel some amount of fear, yet probably their singing and praying help them conquer whatever apprehension chills their hearts.

During the night - in the darkness when all fears seem to take hold of us all - an angel of the Lord opened the doors of their prison. Leading them out, the angel instructs them to go to the temple and tell everyone there about the Good News, "this life."

My reflection on this reading showed me the parallels in our own lives here and now. What is my prison? What keeps me locked up, away from the amazing reality that is theChristian life? Of course, my fears are their most strong in the darkness of night, both literally and figuratively. What is my song in the night? (I often repeat the line "God is my strength and
my song.") That line seems to cover all circumstances for me.

Who is my angel who opens doors for me? Who gives me a nudge to share with others the joy of believing? Am I locked up in hesitance? Worried I will offend or seem a bit crazy if I speak of my faith and joy in the Lord?

The psalm (34) is one of my favorites. So full of promise! "I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears." "Look to him that you may be radiant with joy...the Lord heard and from all (your) distress he saved (you)." And here is our angel again - "The angel of the Lord encamps (not just a fly-by -night angel, he sets up his camp and stays with you)...and delivers (you). "Taste and see how good the Lord is...) The Gospel crowns all the readings with the ultimate promise of our loving God: "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.

There it is - the Very Good News!

Let's all go out and live it, share it, and thank God for it. This life, no matter how difficult, no matter how we suffer, no matter how dark our nights, no matter how scared we are of our uncertain futures, we can remind ourselves of the richness and mercy of God's loving promises.

Again and again.