St. Peter Canisius SJ
Acts 5:17-26
Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.” When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.
When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the temple police went there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on. Then someone arrived and announced, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”
Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Broken locks
Our daughter has no doorknob. We went through a phase where she locked herself in her room over and over again. Then she locked herself in a room at a friend’s house and someone was preparing to climb through a second floor window to get to her when she finally figured out how to unlock the door. The result: no more doorknobs.
In today’s reading, the disciples are imprisoned and their ministry seems to come to a standstill. Then the angel of the Lord breaks through locked doors, freeing the disciples and sending them back to the work they are called to do. Sometimes we make prisons for ourselves. We cannot see a way forward, to follow the call of Christ. We see locked doors, bound hands, empty dreams.
We are trapped by fear, grief, or a desire for security. Is God trying to break me out of my self-imposed prison? Has God removed the locks, opened the doors and challenged me to follow him anew this Easter?
—Jen Coito co-founded Christus Ministries, a young adult ministry endorsed by Jesuits West, and serves on the young family outreach team.
Prayer
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds hide me.
Permit me not to be separated from you.
From the wicked foe, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me
and bid me come to you
That with your saints I may praise you
For ever and ever. Amen.
—Traditional prayer