Daily Readings - Fri May 08 2020
Acts
26Noble brothers, sons of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, it is to you the Word of this salvation has been sent27For those who were living in Jerusalem, and its rulers, heeding neither him, nor the voices of the Prophets that are read on every Sabbath, fulfilled these by judging him28And although they found no case for death against him, they petitioned Pilate, so that they might put him to death29And when they had fulfilled everything that had been written about him, taking him down from the tree, they placed him in a tomb30Yet truly, God raised him up from the dead on the third day31And he was seen for many days by those who went up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who even now are his witnesses to the people32And we are announcing to you that the Promise, which was made to our fathers33has been fulfilled by God for our children by raising up Jesus, just as it has been written in the second Psalm also: ‘You are my Son. This day I have begotten you.
John
1"Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe in me also2In my Father’s house, there are many dwelling places. If there were not, I would have told you. For I go to prepare a place for you3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will return again, and then I will take you to myself, so that where I am, you also may be4And you know where I am going. And you know the way.5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?6Jesus said to him: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the heart of our faith: the promise of salvation and the assurance of eternal life through Jesus Christ. In the first reading from Acts, Paul preaches to the people, recounting how the rulers of Jerusalem failed to recognize Jesus as the Savior and instead condemned Him to death. Yet, as Paul emphasizes, God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day, fulfilling the promises made to the fathers and offering salvation to all. This passage reminds us that the story of Jesus is not just a historical event but a living truth that continues to shape our lives today.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers words of comfort to His disciples, who are troubled by the thought of His departure. He reassures them, saying, "Do not let your heart be troubled," and promises to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house. When Thomas expresses uncertainty about the way forward, Jesus responds with one of the most profound statements in Scripture: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." These words are not just a reassurance to the disciples but a timeless invitation to all of us to place our trust in Him.
The connection between the two readings lies in their focus on the hope and assurance that come from faith in Jesus. Paul’s message in Acts emphasizes that the resurrection of Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises, while John’s Gospel highlights Jesus as the ultimate source of truth and life. Together, they remind us that our faith is rooted in the conviction that Jesus is our way to the Father and that His promises are trustworthy. As we navigate the uncertainties of life, we are called to live with hope, knowing that our ultimate home is with God. Let us strive to trust in Jesus, to follow Him as the Way, and to live as witnesses to the truth and love He has revealed to us.