Daily Readings - Thu Apr 16 2020
Acts
11Then, as he held on to Peter and John, all the people ran to them at the portico, which is called Solomon’s, in astonishment12But Peter, seeing this, responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this? Or why do you stare at us, as if it were by our own strength or power that we caused this man to walk13The God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus, whom you, indeed, handed over and denied before the face of Pilate, when he was giving judgment to release him14Then you denied the Holy and Just One, and petitioned for a murderous man to be given to you15Truly, it was the Author of Life whom you put to death, whom God raised from the dead, to whom we are witnesses16And by faith in his name, this man, whom you have seen and known, has confirmed his name. And faith through him has given this man complete health in the sight of you all17And now, brothers, I know that you did this through ignorance, just as your leaders also did18But in this way God has fulfilled the things that he announced beforehand through the mouth of all the Prophets: that his Christ would suffer19Therefore, repent and be converted, so that your sins may be wiped away20And then, when the time of consolation will have arrived from the presence of the Lord, he will send the One who was foretold to you, Jesus Christ21whom heaven certainly must take up, until the time of the restoration of all things, which God has spoken of by the mouth of his holy prophets, from ages past22Indeed, Moses said: ‘For the Lord your God shall raise up a Prophet for you from your brothers, one like me; the same shall you listen to according to everything whatsoever that he shall speak to you23And this shall be: every soul who will not listen to that Prophet shall be exterminated from the people.24And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and thereafter, have announced these days25You are sons of the prophets and of the testament which God has appointed for our fathers, saying to Abraham: ‘And by your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed.26God raised up his Son and sent him first to you, to bless you, so that each one may turn himself away from his wickedness.
Luke
35And they explained the things that were done on the way, and how they had recognized him at the breaking of the bread36Then, while they were talking about these things, Jesus stood in their midst, And he said to them: "Peace be with you. It is I. Do not be afraid.37Yet truly, they were very disturbed and terrified, supposing that they saw a spirit38And he said to them: "Why are you disturbed, and why do these thoughts rise up in your hearts39See my hands and feet, that it is I myself. Look and touch. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet41Then, while they were still in disbelief and in wonder out of joy, he said, "Do you have anything here to eat?42And they offered him a piece of roasted fish and a honeycomb43And when he had eaten these in their sight, taking up what was left, he gave it to them44And he said to them: "These are the words that I spoke to you when I was still with you, because all things must be fulfilled which are written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms about me.45Then he opened their mind, so that they might understand the Scriptures46And he said to them: "For so it is written, and so it was necessary, for the Christ to suffer and to rise up from the dead on the third day47and, in his name, for repentance and the remission of sins to be preached, among all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem48And you are witnesses of these things
Sermon
Today’s readings from Acts and Luke guide us through moments of transformation and understanding, inviting us to reflect on faith, repentance, and God’s enduring plan. In Acts, Peter addresses a crowd after healing a lame man, attributing the miracle not to himself but to faith in Jesus. He calls the people to repentance, acknowledging their ignorance and highlighting that Jesus’ suffering was part of God’s plan, fulfilling ancient prophecies and promising blessings through Abraham. This scene captures the early church’s boldness and the transition from the old covenant to the new through Jesus.
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus appears to the disciples post-resurrection, easing their fear by showing his physical form and sharing a meal. He explains how his death and resurrection fulfill Scripture, commissioning the disciples to preach repentance and forgiveness. This moment transitions the disciples from fear to understanding, illustrating the importance of faith in comprehending God’s plan.
Both readings emphasize fulfillment of prophecy and the call to repentance. Peter connects Jesus to the prophets, while Jesus in Luke directly ties his actions to Scripture. They highlight faith and understanding amidst confusion. In our lives, this means recognizing when we act from ignorance and seeking alignment with God’s will. Like the disciples, we can move from fear to faith, trusting God’s presence and plan. The moral lesson is clear: embrace faith, seek forgiveness, and witness God’s love. Let us apply these teachings, turning to God with open hearts, trusting in His plan and sharing His forgiveness with the world.