Daily Readings - Thu May 03 2018
1 Corinthians
1And so I make known to you, brothers, the Gospel that I preached to you, which you also received, and on which you stand2By the Gospel, too, you are being saved, if you hold to the understanding that I preached to you, lest you believe in vain3For I handed on to you, first of all, what I also received: that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures4and that he was buried; and that he rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures5and that he was seen by Cephas, and after that by the eleven6Next he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at one time, many of whom remain, even to the present time, although some have fallen asleep7Next, he was seen by James, then by all the Apostles8And last of all, he was seen also by me, as if I were someone born at the wrong time
John
6Jesus said to him: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me7If 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
In today's readings, we are reminded of the cornerstone of our faith and the profound relationship we share with God through Christ. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 15 emphasizes the resurrection of Christ as the foundation of our belief. Paul underscores that Christ's death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day are not just historical events but the very essence of the Gospel. This resurrection is witnessed by many, including Paul himself, reinforcing its reality and significance. The second reading from John 14 highlights Jesus' declaration that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that seeing Him is seeing the Father. Jesus also speaks of believers doing greater works than He did, through the power of the Father.
The context of these readings is deeply rooted in the early Christian community's need for assurance and understanding. Paul's letter to the Corinthians addresses a community grappling with doubts about the resurrection, while John's Gospel provides a intimate conversation where Jesus reassures His disciples of His unity with the Father. Together, these readings connect the resurrection's power with the empowerment we receive through our unity with Christ, enabling us to live out our faith actively.
In our daily lives, these teachings call us to trust in the transformative power of the resurrection and to embrace our role as instruments of God's work. Just as Christ was seen by many after His resurrection, we are called to make Him visible through our actions. By living in unity with God, we can perform greater works, not through our own strength, but through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. This empowerment is not just for grand deeds but for the everyday moments where we choose love, kindness, and service.
As we reflect on these readings, let us embrace the hope and empowerment they offer. May we live each day with the confidence that we are in God and God is in us, trusting in His power to guide and strengthen us. Let us strive to be the hands and feet of Christ, bringing His love and light into the world. In doing so, we not only glorify God but also become living testimonies of the resurrection's power and the enduring truth of Jesus' words.