Daily Readings - Tue Apr 17 2018

First Reading - Acts 7.51 – 8.1a

⁵¹Stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you ever resist the Holy Spirit. Just as your fathers did, so also do you do⁵²Which of the Prophets have your fathers not persecuted? And they killed those who foretold the advent of the Just One. And you have now become the betrayers and murderers of him⁵³You received the law by the actions of Angels, and yet you have not kept it.⁵⁴Then, upon hearing these things, they were deeply wounded in their hearts, and they gnashed their teeth at him⁵⁵But he, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and gazing intently toward heaven, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.⁵⁶And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God."⁵⁷Then they, crying out with a loud voice, blocked their ears and, with one accord, rushed violently toward him⁵⁸And driving him out, beyond the city, they stoned him. And witnesses placed their garments beside the feet of a youth, who was called Saul⁵⁹And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.⁶⁰Then, having been brought to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his murder

Chapter 8

¹Now in those days, there occurred a great persecution against the Church at Jerusalem. And they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles

Gospel - John 6.30-35

John

Chapter 6

³⁰And so they said to him: "Then what sign will you do, so that we may see it and believe in you? What will you work³¹Our fathers ate manna in the desert, just as it has been written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ³²Therefore, Jesus said to them: "Amen, amen, I say to you, Moses did not give you bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven³³For the bread of God is he who descends from heaven and gives life to the world.³⁴And so they said to him, "Lord, give us this bread always.³⁵Then Jesus said to them: "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound moments of faith and sacrifice. From Acts, Stephen, a deacon in the early Christian church, faces martyrdom for his unwavering commitment to the Gospel. Despite the hostility, Stephen forgives his persecutors, echoing Christ's words on the cross. This act highlights the transformative power of faith and forgiveness in the face of adversity. In the Gospel of John, Jesus describes Himself as the "bread of life," offering spiritual nourishment that transcends physical hunger. This teaching follows the feeding of the 5000, where Jesus demonstrated His divine provision. Here, He invites us to seek a deeper connection with God, emphasizing that true fulfillment comes from trusting in Him. These readings remind us to stand firm in our faith, even when faced with challenges. Like Stephen, we are called to forgive and trust in God's plan. Jesus' words encourage us to seek spiritual sustenance daily, nurturing our souls through prayer and reflection. May we embrace this call to live with integrity and compassion, trusting in God's providence.