The meaning of the Sunday Mass Readings for April 2024 is made clearest by Catholic Doctrine. Doctrines are the Magisterium’s authoritative, essentially unchangeable clarifications of Revelation and Faith that, in order to be Catholic, must be accepted as objectively true. Doctrines describe reality. Much of what the Magisterium (the pope and bishops) teach is not doctrine; much of what they teach is the application of Revelation and Faith, not clarification of Revelation and Faith. The Magisterium does not have the authority to contradict doctrine. Let’s learn the always-true doctrines in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that we should especially take away from this April’s Readings.[1]
April 7, Second Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy Sunday
In the Second Reading today, St. John tells us that we love God if we keep His commandments. God’s commandments are made clearest in Catholic Doctrine. The extent to which we accept and practice Catholic Doctrine (knowingly or unknowingly), is the extent to which we love God. There is no view or understanding of giving and receiving love, whether love of God or love of others, that is superior to the understanding of love in Catholic Doctrine.
The First Reading seems to endorse socialism. Its real meaning, like all of Sacred Scripture, is clarified in Catholic Doctrine. CCC 2402-2436 presents Catholic Doctrine on ownership and economics, which might best be summarized: “The Church has rejected the totalitarian and atheistic ideologies [of] ‘communism’ or ‘socialism.’ She has likewise refused to accept, in the practice of ‘capitalism,’ individualism and the absolute primacy of the law of the marketplace . . . (CCC 2425[2]).” Love means rejecting socialism as well as unbridled capitalism.
As the Apostles bore witness to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, as in the First Reading, so today “[t]o be a witness to Christ is to be a witness to his Resurrection” (CCC 995). We need, therefore, to understand Jesus’ Resurrection.
The Catechism uses verses from today’s Gospel to declare that “it is impossible not to acknowledge [Christ’s Resurrection] as an historical fact” (CCC 643). The Apostles’ “faith in the Resurrection was born, under the action of divine grace, from their direct experience of the reality of the risen Jesus” (CCC 644).
And what is this reality? Jesus “showed them his hands and his side” (John 20:20) which reveals that “he is not a ghost” and that ”the risen body in which he appears to them is the same body that had been tortured and crucified” (CCC 645). However, “when the doors were locked . . . Jesus came and stood in their midst” (John 20:19) means that Jesus’ “authentic, real body possesses the new properties of a glorious body: not limited by space and time but able to be present how and when he wills” (CCC 645). Unlike Lazarus raised from the dead, the Risen Christ no longer grows older; gets sick, injured, and tired, or needs food, water, clothing, and shelter. The Resurrected Jesus even conquers death and will never die.
Just as the Risen Christ has an eternal body that is both physical and yet supernatural, so will everyone on the Last Day. Eternity for all persons will include not just their souls, but also their transformed bodies (CCC 655). “All the dead will rise, ‘those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment’” (CCC 998) at Christ’s Second Coming (CCC 1001). The “resurrection of life” places them in the Kingdom of God. The “resurrection of judgment” places them in Hell. Everyone will have eternal bodies and souls whether they are in the Kingdom or Hell. This will be the case not only for those who have died before Christ comes again, but also for those who are living when He comes again.
- From the First Reading[3] (Acts 4:32-35): Acts 4:32 is cited in CCC 952 and 2790; and Acts 4:33 in CCC 995.
- From the Responsorial Psalm (Psalms 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24): Ps 118:14 is cited in CCC 1808; and Ps 118:22 in CCC 587 and 756.
- From the Second Reading (1 John 5:1-6): 1 Jn 5:1 is cited in CCC 2780 and 2790.
- From the Alleluia (John 20:29): see below.
- From the Gospel (John 20:19-31): Jn 20:19 is cited in CCC 575, 643, 645, and 659; Jn 20:20 in CCC 645; Jn 20:21-23 in CCC 1087, 1120, and 1441; Jn 20:21 in CCC 730 and 858; Jn 20:22-23 in CCC 976 and 1485; Jn 20:22 in CCC 730, 788, and 1287; Jn 20:23 in CCC 1461 and 2839; Jn 20:24-27 in CCC 644; Jn 20:26 in CCC 645 and 659; Jn 20:27 in CCC 645; Jn 20:28 in CCC 448; Jn 20:30 in CCC 514; and Jn 20:31 in CCC 442 and 514.
April 14, The Third Sunday of Easter
The Catechism uses Peter’s affirmation in the First Reading that those who wanted Jesus crucified acted out of ignorance to make an important point that applies to all situations: “To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of ‘predestination,’ he includes in it each person’s free response to his grace” (CCC 600). Any view of Divine Providence which denies free will is not Catholic.
The Second Reading tells us that Jesus is the expiation of our sins, which means that Jesus’ sacrificial offering of Himself on the cross is “redemption and reparation, . . . atonement and satisfaction” for our sins (CCC 616). Catholic Doctrine clarifies the connection of penances received in the Sacrament of Confession to Jesus’ Atonement: “Such penances help configure us to Christ [on the cross] . . . “[they] have their efficacy (effectiveness) from him, by him they are offered to the Father, and through him they are accepted by the Father” (CCC 1460).
This Sunday’s Gospel is much like last Sunday’s Gospel by reporting on what Jesus was like after He rose from dead. So let’s focus on an important phrase in today’s Gospel: “in accordance with the Scriptures.” This phrase “indicates that Jesus’ Resurrection fulfilled [the] predictions” made both by the Old Testament and by Jesus Himself during His public ministry (CCC 652). Which is a good reminder that the Catholic way, and therefore the best way, of interpreting Sacred Scripture is to “be especially attentive to the content and unity of the whole [Bible]” (CCC 112), “read the [Bible] . . . according to the spiritual meaning which the Spirit grants to the Church” (CCC 113), and “be attentive to . . . the coherence of the truths of faith among themselves and within the whole plan of Revelation” (CCC 114). See CCC 74-100.
- From the First Reading (Acts 3:13-15, 17-19): Acts 3:13-14 is cited in CCC 597; Acts 3:13 in CCC 599; Acts 3:14 in CCC 438 and 601; Acts 3:15 in CCC 612, 626, 632, and 635; Acts 3:17-18 in CCC 591 and 600; Acts 3:17 in CCC 597; and Acts 3:18 in CCC 601.
- From the Second Reading (1 John 2:1-5a): 1 Jn 2:1-2 is cited in CCC 1460; and 1 Jn 2:1 in CCC 519, 692, and 2634.
- From the Gospel (Luke 24:35-48): Lk 24:36 is cited in CCC 641 and 645; Lk 24:38-41 in CCC 644; Lk 24:39-40 in CCC 645; Lk 24:39 in CCC 999; Lk 24:41-43 in CCC 645; Lk 24:44-48 in CCC 652; Lk 24:44-46 in CCC 112; Lk 24:44-45 in CCC 572 and 601; Lk 24:44 in CCC 702, 2625, and 2763; Lk 24:45 in CCC 108; Lk 24:46 in CCC 627; Lk 24:47-48 in CCC 730; Lk 24:47 in CCC 981, 1120, and 1122.
April 21, The Fourth Sunday of Easter
Jesus is the stone which was rejected by the builders but which became the cornerstone, as proclaimed by St. Peter in today’s First Reading and as prophesied in today’s Responsorial Psalm. “On this foundation [which is Jesus] the Church is built by the apostles” (CCC 756). We are reminded again that God has revealed Himself and His Will not only through Sacred Scripture, but also through Sacred Tradition. The Twelve Apostles gave Jesus’ followers Sacred Tradition, which preceded Sacred Scripture. Jesus made the Twelve Apostles and their successors the Magisterium, the only authority to interpret Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. Only the Catholic Church has Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium.
To “see God as he is,” as the Second Reading puts it, is a description of Heaven, where “[t]hose who die in God’s grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live forever” (CCC 1023). See CCC 1023-1029, 1038-1050.
In today’s Gospel, when Jesus talks about laying his life down and taking it up again, He means His Crucifixion and Resurrection (CCC 649).
- From the First Reading (Acts 4:8-12): Acts 4:10 is cited in CCC 597; Acts 4:11 in CCC 756; Acts 4:12 in CCC 432, 452, and 1507.
- From the Responsorial Psalm (Psalms 118: 1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29): Ps 118:22 is cited in CCC 587 and 756; and Ps 118:26 in CCC 559.
- From the Second Reading (1 John 3:1-2): 1 Jn 3:1 is cited in CCC 1692; and 1 Jn 3:2 in CCC 163, 1023, 1161, 1720, 2519, and 2772.
- From the Gospel (John 10:11-18): Jn 10:11-15 is cited in CCC 754; Jn 10:11 in CCC 553 and 754; Jn 10:16 in CCC 60; Jn 10:17-18 in CCC 614 and 649; Jn 10:17 in CCC 606; and Jn 10:18 in CCC 609.
April 28, The Fifth Sunday of Easter
The verses in today’s Second Reading about “condemning” mean that God will “forgive the man who realizes that he is a sinner before him” (CCC 208). “Asking forgiveness is the prerequisite for both the Eucharistic liturgy and personal prayer” (CCC 2631). How do we know what to ask forgiveness for? How do we know whether we have sinned? We know we are “following Christ and united with him” (CCC 1694) because Catholic Moral Doctrine tells us. See Part III of the Catechism.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that He is the vine and we are the branches. “We” are those of us “who through the Church remain in Christ” (CCC 755). “The Church is both the means and the goal of God’s plan: prefigured in creation, prepared for in the Old Covenant, founded by the words and actions of Jesus Christ, fulfilled by his redeeming cross and his Resurrection, . . . manifested by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit” and “perfected in the glory of heaven as the assembly of all the redeemed of the earth” (CCC 778).
- From the Responsorial Psalm (Psalms 22: 26-27, 28, 30, 31-32): Ps 22:27 is cited in CCC 716.
- From the Second Reading (1 John 3:18-24): 1 Jn 3:19-24 is cited in CCC 2845; 1 Jn 3:19-20 in CCC 208 and 1781; 1 Jn 3:21 in CCC 2778; and 1 Jn 3:22 in CCC 2631.
- From the Alleluia (John 15:4a, 5b): see below.
- From the Gospel (John 15:1-8): Jn 15:1-5 is cited in CCC 755; Jn 15:1-4 in CCC 1988; Jn 15:3 in CCC 517; Jn 15:4-5 in CCC 787; Jn 15:5 in CCC 308, 859, 864, 1694, 2074, and 2732; Jn 15:7 in CCC 2615; and Jn 15:8 in CCC 737.
[1] There are too many citations, or references, in the Catechism to the verses in a month of Sunday Mass readings to identify all the pertinent doctrines, so I will use my best judgment to select which verses and doctrines to cover in a column that may not exceed 2,000 words. The bullet points allow you to explore further the Biblical basis of Catholic Doctrine.
[2] CCC abbreviates Catechism of the Catholic Church. Any number after it is the number of a paragraph in the Catechism. For example, “CCC 2425” means paragraph 2425 of the Catechism.
[3] If a Reading is not listed, then none of its verses is cited by the CCC.
7 thoughts on “The Sunday Readings and Catholic Doctrine for April 2024”
Gene, I hope you read the introduction to my next column.
Thanks, Gene. But be forewarned, anyone who reads a Magisterial document: the Magisterium rarely identifies what within its teaching is doctrine. In the case of its social justice teachings, the Magisterium rarely distinguishes doctrine, with which all Catholics should agree, from its other teachings (its social analysis and prudential judgments), with which Catholics may disagree. So everything in a Magisterial document is not doctrine. The Magisterium would help everyone by consistently and explicitly identifying doctrine in its teachings.
Marty, I’m not quite sure what you are saying because the Magisterium only issues documents on matters of faith and morals. As such, all of the teachings of the Catholic Church are doctrine. But Catholics can disagree with some of these teachings. Third level teachings (and what Cardinal Avery Dulles described as a fourth level of teachings) are considered “ordinary teaching on faith and morals.” These teachings are those which are open to prudential judgement. As Dr. Robert Fastiggi explained in an article I wrote for CS in 2016, “These judgments would require serious consideration, but the ultimate decisions on such public policies would belong to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.”
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The article states that Catholic doctrine rejects Communism, Socialism and “unbridled Capitalism.” However, knowing what is wrong without saying what is right leaves the questioning reader to wonder what IS acceptable in Catholic doctrine.
Catholic Doctrine, whether about social justice or sexuality or any other topic, needs to be complemented by Reason. Regarding socio-economic policy, after learning paragraphs 2402-2436 of the Catechism, as I wrote in my column, I suggest that one should become more familiar with orthodox Catholic thinkers who are also expert in social science, such as Weigel and Royal’s “Building the Free Society: Democracy, Capitalism, and Catholic Social Teaching” and other work by the Ethics and Public Policy Center. I also recommend CatholicVote.org. There are secular sources that are good because they embrace Reason rather than ideology, such as the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute.
To add to what Marty suggests, Ross, you might want to read the “Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.” Here is a link — https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html
The Compendium offers a set of principles and guidelines that mankind should/must take into account when setting up a system of governance.