Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 18, 2018
First Reading: Acts 8.1b-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 Apostles2But God-fearing men arranged for Stephen’s funeral, and they made a great mourning over him3Then Saul was laying waste to the Church by entering throughout the houses, and dragging away men and women, and committing them to prison4Therefore, those who had been dispersed were traveling around, evangelizing the Word of God5Now Philip, descending to a city of Samaria, was preaching Christ to them6And the crowd was listening intently and with one accord to those things which were being said by Philip, and they were watching the signs which he was accomplishing7For many of them had unclean spirits, and, crying out with a loud voice, these departed from them8And many of the paralytics and the lame were cured
Psalm 66
1Unto the end. A Canticle Psalm of the Resurrection. Shout joyfully to God, all the earth2Proclaim a psalm to his name. Give glory to his praise3Exclaim to God, "How terrible are your works, O Lord!" According to the fullness of your virtue, your enemies will speak lies about you4Let all the earth adore you and sing psalms to you. May it sing a psalm to your name5Draw near and see the works of God, who is terrible in his counsels over the sons of men6He converts the sea into dry land. They will cross the river on foot. There, we will rejoice in him7He rules by his virtue for eternity. His eyes gaze upon the nations. May those who exasperate him, not be exalted in themselves8Bless our God, you Gentiles, and make the voice of his praise be heard9He has set my soul toward life, and he has granted that my feet may not be shaken10For you, O God, have tested us. You have examined us by fire, just as silver is examined11You have led us into a snare. You have placed tribulations on our back12You have set men over our heads. We have crossed through fire and water. And you have led us out to refreshment13I will enter your house with holocausts. I will repay my vows to you14which my lips discerned and my mouth spoke, in my tribulation15I will offer to you holocausts full of marrow, with the burnt offerings of rams. I will offer to you bulls as well as goats16Draw near and listen, all you who fear God, and I will describe to you how much he has done for my soul17I cried out to him with my mouth, and I extolled him under my breath18If I have seen iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not heed me19And yet, God has heeded me and he has attended to the voice of my supplication20Blessed is God, who has not removed my prayer, nor his mercy, from me
Gospel: John 6.35-40
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 thirst36But I say to you, that even though you have seen me, you do not believe37All that the Father gives to me shall come to me. And whoever comes to me, I will not cast out38For I descended from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me39Yet this is the will of the Father who sent me: that I should lose nothing out of all that he has given to me, but that I should raise them up on the last day40So then, this is the will of my Father who sent me: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through themes of perseverance, trust, and the profound call to faith. The first reading from Acts describes a tumultuous period for the early Church, marked by persecution and dispersion. Yet, amidst this chaos, the believers, including Philip, courageously spread the Gospel, even in Samaria, demonstrating the power of faith amidst adversity. The Gospel from John presents Jesus as the Bread of Life, emphasizing trust in the Father's plan and the promise of eternal life for those who believe.
The context of Acts 8 reveals a pivotal moment where persecution paradoxically becomes a catalyst for the Gospel's spread. Philip's mission in Samaria exemplifies this, showing how trust in God's providence can lead to unexpected opportunities. In John 6, Jesus addresses a crowd that has witnessed miracles but still hesitates in belief. He invites them to a deeper trust, beyond mere sight, to a faith that sustains and grants eternal life.
These readings intertwine beautifully, highlighting the connection between trust and action. Just as the early Christians trusted God despite persecution, we too are called to trust Him in our challenges. Philip's evangelism in Samaria encourages us to share the Gospel even in difficult times. Jesus's words remind us to seek spiritual nourishment and trust in God's plan, even when circumstances are unclear.
In our daily lives, these readings inspire us to face challenges with hope and perseverance. When we encounter obstacles, we can trust that God is at work, turning trials into opportunities. Like Philip, we are called to share the Good News with others, trusting in God's grace. Jesus's invitation to trust Him deeply reminds us that our faith is not about seeing miracles but about believing in His plan for eternal life.
The moral reflection here is clear: trust in God's plan and persevere in faith. The readings show that true faith is not about what we see but about trusting in God's will. This trust empowers us to face challenges with hope and to share the Gospel, knowing God is always at work. Let us embrace this trust, allowing it to guide us in our daily lives and in our mission to spread the Good News.