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Sunday, April 18, 2021

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Third Sunday of Easter


Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
1 John 2:1-5
Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-9
Luke 24:35-48

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ignorance ain’t bliss

“Yet I know, my brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did.” —Acts 3:17

Contrary to the old saying, ignorance is not bliss. What you don’t know will hurt you. God’s people perish for lack of knowledge (Hos 4:6).

Of course, the Lord is merciful and will even make excuses for us in our ignorance: “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23:34). Nevertheless, there comes a time when there’s no excuse for our ignorance of God, His Word, and His plan of salvation. “God may well have overlooked bygone periods when men did not know Him; but now He calls on all men everywhere to reform their lives” (Acts 17:30). “For if the word spoken through angels stood unchanged, and all transgression and disobedience received its due punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore a salvation as great as ours?” (Heb 2:2-3)

Jesus wants us to know Him and His Word. He spent the first Easter Sunday explaining the Scriptures. On Easter afternoon, He taught the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:27ff). In the evening, He “opened their minds to the understanding of the Scriptures” (Lk 24:45). The Holy Spirit commanded the early believers to devote themselves to the apostles’ instruction (Acts 2:42). “Each day they studied the Scriptures to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

In this age of the Spirit, there’s no excuse for ignorance. “Do not continue in ignorance, but try to discern the will of the Lord” (Eph 5:17).

Prayer:  Father, I’m sorry for staying ignorant. I choose this day to seek wisdom.

Promise:  “The man who claims, ‘I have known Him,’ without keeping His commandments, is a liar.” —1 Jn 2:4

Praise:  “Amen! Praise and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving and honor, power and might, to our God forever and ever. Amen!” (Rv 7:12) Risen Jesus, You merit our constant praise!

Reference:  

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for One Bread, One Body covering the period from April 1,2021 through May 31, 2021 Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio August 5,2020"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.