Daily Readings - Thu May 09 2019
Acts
26Now an Angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Rise up and go toward the south, to the way which descends from Jerusalem into Gaza, where there is a desert.27And rising up, he went. And behold, an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, powerful under Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasures, had arrived in Jerusalem to worship28And while returning, he was sitting upon his chariot and reading from the prophet Isaiah29Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Draw near and join yourself to this chariot.30And Philip, hurrying, heard him reading from the prophet Isaiah, and he said, "Do you think that you understand what you are reading?31And he said, "But how can I, unless someone will have revealed it to me?" And he asked Philip to climb up and sit with him32Now the place in Scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter. And like a lamb silent before his shearer, so he opened not his mouth33He endured his judgment with humility. Who of his generation shall describe how his life was taken away from the earth?34Then the eunuch responded to Philip, saying: "I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?35Then Philip, opening his mouth and beginning from this Scripture, evangelized Jesus to him36And while they were going along the way, they arrived at a certain water source. And the eunuch said: "There is water. What would prevent me from being baptized?37Then Philip said, "If you believe from your whole heart, it is permitted." And he responded by saying, "I believe the Son of God to be Jesus the Christ.38And he ordered the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch descended into the water. And he baptized him39And when they had ascended from the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him anymore. Then he went on his way, rejoicing40Now Philip was found in Azotus. And continuing on, he evangelized all the cities, until he arrived in Caesarea
John
44No one is able to come to me, unless the Father, who has sent me, has drawn him. And I will raise him up on the last day45It has been written in the Prophets: ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has listened and learned from the Father comes to me46Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God; this one has seen the Father47Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me has eternal life48I am the bread of life49Your fathers ate manna in the desert, and they died50This is the bread which descends from heaven, so that if anyone will eat from it, he may not die51I am the living bread, who descended from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread, he shall live in eternity. And the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of faith and divine encounter. In Acts 8:26-40, Philip is guided by the Spirit to meet an Ethiopian eunuch who is reading from Isaiah. Philip's explanation of the Scripture leads the eunuch to baptism, illustrating the importance of spiritual guidance and readiness to receive the Gospel. In John 6:44-51, Jesus describes Himself as the bread of life, emphasizing that faith comes from the Father's drawing and promising eternal life to those who believe.
Both readings highlight the interplay between divine grace and human response. The eunuch's encounter shows how understanding Scripture requires guidance, while Jesus' words underscore that faith is a divine gift. Together, they teach us that spiritual growth involves both receiving God's grace and actively responding with openness and faith.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to seek spiritual nourishment and remain open to the Holy Spirit's promptings. Just as the eunuch was ready to receive the truth, we should embrace opportunities for growth and trust in God's providence. Let us cultivate a deep faith, trusting in God's plan and being willing to take steps of faith, just as the eunuch did through baptism. May we find eternal life in Christ, the true bread from heaven.