Daily Readings - Thu Apr 30 2020
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
The readings today remind us of the profound mystery of God’s initiative in our lives and the gift of faith that draws us to Him. In the first reading from Acts, we witness the encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch, a high-ranking official, is reading from the prophet Isaiah but struggles to understand the passage. Philip, guided by the Holy Spirit, approaches him and explains the Scripture, revealing how it points to Jesus Christ. This encounter leads to the eunuch’s baptism, a moment of profound conversion and joy. The story highlights the importance of guidance, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the universal call to faith, as even those on the margins—like the eunuch—are brought into God’s family.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of Himself as the bread of life, emphasizing that no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father. This teaching underscores the truth that faith is a gift from God, not something we can achieve on our own. Just as the eunuch needed Philip to explain the Scriptures, we too need the grace of God to open our hearts and minds to His truth. Jesus’ words also remind us that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a lived relationship with Him, nourished by His Word and His presence in the Eucharist.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own journey of faith. How often do we recognize the ways God is drawing us closer to Himself? Like the eunuch, we may find ourselves in moments of confusion or doubt, but God provides us with guides—through Scripture, the Church, and one another—to help us understand and deepen our faith. As we go about our daily lives, let us remain open to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, trusting in God’s plan and sharing the gift of faith with others. May we, like Philip, be instruments of God’s grace, and may we, like the eunuch, embrace the joy of conversion with open hearts.