Easter Friday - "It is the Lord!"

Another astounding chapter of the Easter story unfolds in today's readings. We continue the account of Peter and John and the crippled man they healed. This time, Peter, who cowered and raged against his allegiance to Jesus after His arrest on Holy Thursday, now submits to custody by the temple guards, and undaunted, pursues his evangelizing, "filled with the Holy Spirit." Psalm 118 abounds with praise for God. We listen eagerly to the familiar recital of Peter and some other disciples returning to their fishing business, and again, drawn completely out of their mundane activity by the appearance of Jesus on the lake shore, who invites them to eat with him. The Optional Memorial of St. Vincent Ferrer is superseded today by the Easter Octave Solemnity.