Daily Gospel for April 18. Readings of the day. Mark 16:9-15

Reading of the day April 18. Easter Saturday. 

Reading of the Acts of the Apostles 4:13-21. 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.

Daily Psalm. Psalm 118(117),1.14-15.16ab-18.19-21.

(R). "I will thank you, Lord, for you have given answer".

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just. (R).

The right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD has struck with power. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. Though the LORD has indeed chastised me, yet he has not delivered me to death. (R).

Open to me the gates of justice; I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; the just shall enter it. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior. (R).

Daily Gospel Acclamation. Gospel of the day April 18. Easter Saturday.

"Alleluia, alleluia! This day was made by the Lord: we rejoice and are glad. Alleluia!" (Cfr. Psalm 117,24)

Daily Gospel. Gospel of the day April 18. Mark 16:9-15

Reading for the Gospel of the day - (Easter Saturday - The mission of the Apostles) When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either. (But) later, as the eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature."

Daily Gospel Commentaries by Pope Francis.

The joy of the Gospel of the day fills the heart and the whole life of those who meet Jesus. Those who allow themselves to be saved by Him are freed from sin, from sadness, from inner emptiness, from isolation. With Jesus Christ, joy is always born and reborn

The disciples in turn have received the call to be with Jesus and to be sent by Him to preach the Gospel, and así́ is filled with joy. Through qué́ do we not also enter into this flood of joy?

The great risk of today´s world, with its multiple and overwhelming offers of consumption, is an individualistic sadness that springs from the comfortable and greedy heart, from the sickly search for superficial pleasures, from the isolated conscience. Therefore, humanity has a great need to take advantage of the salvation that Christ has brought us.

The disciples are those who allow themselves to be seized more and more by the love of Jesus and marked by the fire of passion for the Kingdom of God, in order to be bearers of the joy of the Gospel. All the Lord´s disciples are called to cultivate the joy of evangelization.

Vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life are scarce in many regions. This is often due to a lack of contagious apostolic fervour in the communities, which lack enthusiasm and do not arouse any attraction.

The joy of the Gospel is born of the encounter with Christ and the sharing with the poor. I therefore encourage parish communities, associations and groups to live an intense fraternal life, based on love for Jesus and attentive to the needs of the most disadvantaged.

Where there is joy, fervor, a desire to bring Christ to others, true vocations arise. (Message for the 88th World Mission Day, 14 June 2014)

Pope´s quotes.

"The disciples had progressed in familiarity with the Lord. May the Lord also teach us this familiarity with Him, which is personal, but always communitarian: a familiarity in everyday life, in the sacraments, in the midst of the people of God." (04.17.2020 - @pontifex)

Daily Gospel. Meditation in video for Gospel of the day April 18. Easter Saturday.