Daily Readings - Mon May 01 2017

First Reading - Acts 6.8-15

⁸Then Stephen, filled with grace and fortitude, wrought great signs and miracles among the people⁹But certain ones, from the synagogue of the so-called Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those who were from Cilicia and Asia rose up and were disputing with Stephen¹⁰But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking¹¹Then they suborned men who were to claim that they had heard him speaking words of blasphemy against Moses and against God¹²And thus did they stir up the people and the elders and the scribes. And hurrying together, they seized him and brought him to the council¹³And they set up false witnesses, who said: "This man does not cease to speak words against the holy place and the law¹⁴For we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and will change the traditions, which Moses handed down to us.¹⁵And all those who were sitting in the council, gazing at him, saw his face, as if it had become the face of an Angel

Gospel - John 6.22-29

John

Chapter 6

²²On the next day, the crowd which was standing across the sea saw that there were no other small boats in that place, except one, and that Jesus had not entered into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had departed alone²³Yet truly, other boats came over from Tiberias, next to the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord gave thanks²⁴Therefore, when the crowd had seen that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they climbed into the small boats, and they went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus²⁵And when they had found him across the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?²⁶Jesus answered them and said: "Amen, amen, I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen signs, but because you have eaten from the bread and were satisfied²⁷Do not work for food that perishes, but for that which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him.²⁸Therefore, they said to him, "What should we do, so that we may labor in the works of God?²⁹Jesus responded and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, perseverance, and our ultimate purpose as followers of Christ. In the first reading from Acts, we encounter Stephen, a man filled with grace and courage, who performs great signs and miracles. Despite his good works, he faces fierce opposition from those who cannot accept his message. They falsely accuse him of blasphemy and bring him before the council, where he stands firm in his faith, even in the face of hostility. Stephen’s story reminds us that living a life of faith often means facing challenges and misunderstandings, but we must remain steadfast in our commitment to God’s truth. In the Gospel, Jesus addresses a crowd that has followed him after being fed miraculously. He challenges them to look beyond the physical bread that satisfied their hunger and to seek instead the “bread that endures to eternal life.” Jesus emphasizes that true fulfillment comes not from worldly comforts but from a deep relationship with God. The crowd asks, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus responds simply: “Believe in the one he sent.” This exchange underscores the heart of our faith—trust in God and trust in Jesus, whom He has sent to guide us. These readings are connected by the theme of faith amidst adversity and the call to seek what truly lasts. Stephen’s courage in the face of persecution and Jesus’ invitation to seek eternal life remind us that our ultimate goal is not comfort or ease but a life rooted in faith and trust in God. In our daily lives, we may face challenges or be tempted to focus on temporary satisfactions. Let us remember to stay grounded in our faith, to seek the bread that truly satisfies, and to trust in God’s plan, even when the path is difficult. May we, like Stephen, remain steadfast in our commitment to the truth, and may we, like the crowd, hunger for the eternal life that only Jesus can give.