Daily Readings - Sat Apr 28 2018

First Reading - Acts 13.44-52

⁴⁴Yet truly, on the following Sabbath, nearly the entire city came together to hear the Word of God⁴⁵Then the Jews, seeing the crowds, were filled with envy, and they, blaspheming, contradicted the things that were being said by Paul⁴⁶Then Paul and Barnabas said firmly: "It was necessary to speak the Word of God first to you. But because you reject it, and so judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles⁴⁷For so has the Lord instructed us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ⁴⁸Then the Gentiles, upon hearing this, were gladdened, and they were glorifying the Word of the Lord. And as many as believed were preordained to eternal life⁴⁹Now the word of the Lord was disseminated throughout the entire region⁵⁰But the Jews incited some devout and honest women, and the leaders of the city. And they stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas. And they drove them away from their parts⁵¹But they, shaking the dust from their feet against them, went on to Iconium⁵²The disciples were likewise filled with gladness and with the Holy Spirit

Gospel - John 14.7-14

John

Chapter 14

⁷If you had known me, certainly you would also have known my Father. And from now on, you shall know him, and you have seen him.⁸Philip said to him, "Lord, reveal the Father to us, and it is enough for us.⁹Jesus said to him: "Have I been with you for so long, and you have not known me? Philip, whoever sees me, also sees the Father. How can you say, ‘Reveal the Father to us?¹⁰Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I am speaking to you, I do not speak from myself. But the Father abiding in me, he does these works¹¹Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me¹²Or else, believe because of these same works. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me shall also do the works that I do. And greater things than these shall he do, for I go to the Father¹³And whatever you shall ask the Father in my name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son¹⁴If you shall ask anything of me in my name, that I will do

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the universal call to salvation and the intimate relationship between Jesus and the Father. In the first reading from Acts, we see Paul and Barnabas preaching to the Gentiles after being rejected by the Jews. Despite the persecution they faced, they entrusted their mission to God, shaking the dust from their feet and moving forward with joy and the Holy Spirit. This passage reminds us that the Gospel is meant for all people, and God’s plan is not limited by human rejection or obstacles. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Philip about the unity between Himself and the Father. He emphasizes that seeing Him is seeing the Father and that His works are a manifestation of the Father’s presence within Him. Jesus also promises that those who believe in Him will do even greater works, for He goes to the Father to intercede for us. These readings are connected by the theme of trust in God’s plan and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. In Acts, Paul and Barnabas trusted that God would use their persecution to spread the Gospel further. In John, Jesus assures His disciples that they will continue His work through the power of the Holy Spirit. Both readings encourage us to have faith in God’s providence, even when we face challenges or uncertainty. They remind us that our actions and words should reflect God’s love and truth, just as Jesus’ actions reflected the Father’s will. In our daily lives, these readings call us to embrace our role as disciples of Christ. Like Paul and Barnabas, we are called to share the Gospel with courage and perseverance, even when we encounter resistance. Like Philip, we may sometimes doubt or seek clearer signs of God’s presence, but Jesus assures us that He is always with us, working through us. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s plan, to see His hand at work in our lives, and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in doing His will. May we, like the early disciples, be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit as we live out our faith in a world that often rejects it.