Daily Readings - Wed Apr 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

Gospel - John 6.35-40

John

Chapter 6

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.