Acts 5:17-26 / John 3:16-21
If we put an object in the bedroom and locked the room, and the next day we find that very object sitting in the middle of the living room, we will certainly be astonished.
We may think that someone is playing a prank on us or that someone moved that object without telling us.
But if after all the investigations and ruling out all possibilities, and we still cannot find a possible explanation for what has happened, then we might consider asking a priest to come and bless the house!
In the 1st reading, we heard that the disciples were imprisoned by the chief priest and his supporters. But that very night an angel freed them from prison and told them to go on with the mission of proclaiming the Good News.
The next morning, the chief priest convened the Sanhedrin, but when they found out that the disciples were not in prison and then were told that they are at the Temple preaching to the people, there could be a variety of reactions to this.
They could be astonished, they could be afraid, they could be in awe and wonder, or they could have the same reactions to the Resurrection of Christ - being obstinate and incredulous, despite all the facts.
As Jesus said in the gospel - though the light has come into the world, men have shown they prefer darkness to the light.
That is like saying that men prefer the prison than freedom.
So in the 1st reading, it is quite clear to see who were the ones who were in prison and who were the ones who live in freedom.
God raised Jesus from death so that like Him we too can be freed from sin and darkness. To go back to the tomb or to lock ourselves in is simply being obstinate and incredulous.