Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter

• First Reading - Acts 12:24—13:5a: Barnabas and Saul, dedicated by the Antioch church for missionary work through the Holy Spirit's guidance, traveled to Cyprus to spread God's word in Jewish synagogues.
• Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 67: May God bless us and make His ways known, so His salvation reaches all nations. He governs fairly, guiding the nations, prompting joyous praise from all peoples.
• Gospel - John 12:44-50: Jesus declared that believing in Him also means believing in God who sent Him. He came as light to dispel darkness, emphasizing His mission of salvation over condemnation. However, those rejecting His words face judgment by those same teachings on the last day, as His messages are direct commands from God, leading to eternal life.

I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.

John 12:46

Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter highlights themes of mission, belief, and judgment. Here are some themes from the readings:

• Guidance of the Holy Spirit: Barnabas and Saul are sent on a missionary journey with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. This highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in directing and empowering missionary activities.
• Belief in Jesus and God: Jesus emphasizes that believing in Him also means believing in the Father who sent Him. This linkage underscores the unity between Jesus and the Father and the importance of faith in both.
• Jesus as light and savior: Jesus describes Himself as the light that dispels darkness, signifying His role in overcoming sin and guiding people to salvation rather than condemnation.
• Responsibility of response: Jesus warns that rejecting His words will lead to judgment by those same words on the last day. This stresses the responsibility that comes with hearing the Gospel.
• Divine commands and eternal life: Jesus clarifies that His teachings are not merely His own but are commands from God, directly connected to eternal life. This emphasizes the divine authority behind His message.

These themes for Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter help us understand the significance of our faith responses and the divine guidance in our mission.

On the Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter, the readings highlight the mission of spreading the Gospel and the very basic belief in Jesus as the Son of God.

In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we see Barnabas and Saul, guided by the Holy Spirit, being set apart by the church in Antioch for the work of missionary outreach. They travel to Cyprus, proclaiming God's word in the Jewish synagogues. This passage exemplifies the early church's commitment to evangelization and the role of the community in supporting and sending missionaries.

The Gospel of John strengthens this message of proclamation as Jesus declares that to believe in Him is to believe in the God who sent Him. Jesus describes Himself as the light that dispels all darkness, highlighting His mission to save rather than condemn. This is a call to all believers to not only listen to His words but also to live by them, as they are the commands of God leading to eternal life.

Both readings call us to reflect on our own role in sharing the Gospel. Are we active participants in spreading the word of God like Barnabas and Saul? Do we truly believe in Jesus' teachings and accept Him as the light in our darkness?

The readings challenge us to look at how our own communities support missionary efforts. Are we encouraging and sending forth missionaries, whether locally or internationally? Do we understand and embrace our own missionary calling in whatever environment we are placed?

Jesus' words remind us of the seriousness of our call as Christians. To reject His words is to face judgment by those very teachings at the end of times. This should inspire a reverent and committed approach to how we live out the Gospel.

As we continue to journey through the Easter season, let us recommit ourselves to both belief in Jesus and action in His name, spreading His light to dispel the darkness around us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to truly believe in Your Son, Jesus, as the light of the world. Give us strength to live by His teachings and share His message of salvation. Amen.

Word on Fire: Understanding the Trinity

Bishop Robert Barron explains that Jesus shows us that God is the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This teaches us that God is love, involving a lover, the beloved, and the love they share. God's love is so strong that it reaches out to creation. Even when human sin broke this connection, God sent His Son to restore it. God did this so we could join in their community and have eternal life. The Trinity is not just a teaching; it explains how God saves us.

USCCB Reflection: Illuminating Our Faith

Title: "The Resurrection's Light: Illuminating Our Faith"

The Catechism tells us that the light from Christ's resurrection shines throughout the liturgical year. In the Gospel for Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter, Jesus describes Himself as the light, coming into the world to drive out darkness. This light is vital, like sunlight, and helps us see everything clearly. Jesus says that believing in Him brings spiritual light, letting us see the world with God’s merciful love instead of judgment. Throughout the Easter season, as we listen to God's word, we learn who we really are in the healing light of God's love and mercy, which calls us to a new life.

What date is Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter?

What are the Mass readings for Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter?

The Mass readings for Wednesday April 29, 2026 are:
First Reading  - Acts 12:24—13:5a: Mission of Barnabas and Saul
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 67: Blessing and Global Praise
Gospel - John 12:44-50: Light and Judgment

What happened in the First Reading for Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter?

In the First Reading from Acts 12:24—13:5a, Barnabas and Saul, led by the Holy Spirit, were set apart by the church in Antioch to do missionary work. They traveled to Cyprus to share God's word in Jewish synagogues.

How did Barnabas and Saul start their missionary journey?

Barnabas and Saul started their missionary journey after the church in Antioch, guided by the Holy Spirit, dedicated them to God's work.

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the First Reading for Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter?

The Holy Spirit played a key role in guiding the church in Antioch to send Barnabas and Saul on their missionary work, showing the Spirit's influence in spreading God's word.

What does Jesus say about believing in Him in the Gospel for Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter?

In the Gospel from John 12:44-50, Jesus says that believing in Him is the same as believing in God who sent Him. He explains that He came to the world as light to remove darkness.

What is the consequence of rejecting Jesus' teachings according to the Gospel?

According to the Gospel, those who reject Jesus' words will be judged by those same teachings on the last day.

Why does Jesus refer to Himself as the light in the Gospel for Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter?

Jesus refers to Himself as the light because He came to clear away the darkness of sin and lead people to salvation, showing them the way to live right with God.