Daily Readings - Fri Apr 27 2018

First Reading - Acts 13.26-33

²⁶Noble brothers, sons of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, it is to you the Word of this salvation has been sent²⁷For those who were living in Jerusalem, and its rulers, heeding neither him, nor the voices of the Prophets that are read on every Sabbath, fulfilled these by judging him²⁸And although they found no case for death against him, they petitioned Pilate, so that they might put him to death²⁹And when they had fulfilled everything that had been written about him, taking him down from the tree, they placed him in a tomb³⁰Yet truly, God raised him up from the dead on the third day³¹And he was seen for many days by those who went up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who even now are his witnesses to the people³²And we are announcing to you that the Promise, which was made to our fathers³³has been fulfilled by God for our children by raising up Jesus, just as it has been written in the second Psalm also: ‘You are my Son. This day I have begotten you.

Gospel - John 14.1-6

John

Chapter 14

¹"Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe in me also²In my Father’s house, there are many dwelling places. If there were not, I would have told you. For I go to prepare a place for you³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will return again, and then I will take you to myself, so that where I am, you also may be⁴And you know where I am going. And you know the way.⁵Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?⁶Jesus said to him: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter profound truths about God’s plan of salvation and the hope that lies at the heart of our faith. The first reading from Acts recounts the early Christian preaching of Paul, who explains how the rulers of Jerusalem failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah despite the fulfillment of the prophets’ words. Paul emphasizes that God raised Jesus from the dead, fulfilling the promises made to the fathers, and that this salvation is now extended to all people. The Gospel from John, part of Jesus’ farewell discourse, offers comfort and clarity to his disciples. Jesus assures them that he is going to prepare a place for them in his Father’s house and that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the only path to the Father. These readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on the resurrection and the divine plan. In Acts, Paul’s words remind us that the resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith, the ultimate proof of God’s love and fidelity. In John’s Gospel, Jesus’ words to his disciples remind us that this resurrection hope is not just a future reality but also a present truth. Jesus is the Way, guiding us through the uncertainties of life, and the Truth, revealing God’s love to us. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on the hope that defines us as Christians: the hope of eternal life with God, made possible through the resurrection of Jesus. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded to trust in God’s plan, even when the path ahead seems unclear. Just as Jesus prepared a place for his disciples, he prepares a way for us, no matter the challenges we face. We are called to live with the confidence that Jesus is our guide, our truth, and our life. Let us ask for the grace to follow him faithfully, knowing that he leads us to the Father. May we, like the early Christians, be witnesses to the hope that we have, sharing the Good News of salvation with all those around us.