Daily Readings - Fri Apr 16 2021
Acts
34But someone in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, rose up and ordered the men to be put outside briefly35And he said to them: "Men of Israel, you should be careful in your intentions about these men36For before these days, Theudas stepped forward, asserting himself to be someone, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined with him. But he was killed, and all who believed in him were scattered, and they were reduced to nothing37After this one, Judas the Galilean stepped forward, in the days of the enrollment, and he turned the people toward himself. But he also perished, and all of them, as many as had joined with him, were dispersed38And now therefore, I say to you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or work is of men, it will be broken39Yet truly, if it is of God, you will not be able to break it, and perhaps you might be found to have fought against God." And they agreed with him40And calling in the Apostles, having beaten them, they warned them not to speak at all in the name of Jesus. And they dismissed them41And indeed, they went forth from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer insult on behalf of the name of Jesus42And every day, in the temple and among the houses, they did not cease to teach and to evangelize Christ Jesus
John
1After these things, Jesus traveled across the sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias2And a great multitude was following him, for they saw the signs that he was accomplishing toward those who were infirm3Therefore, Jesus went onto a mountain, and he sat down there with his disciples4Now the Passover, the feast day of the Jews, was near5And so, when Jesus had lifted up his eyes and had seen that a very great multitude came to him, he said to Philip, "From where should we buy bread, so that these may eat?6But he said this to test him. For he himself knew what he would do7Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii of bread would not be sufficient for each of them to receive even a little.8One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him9"There is a certain boy here, who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are these among so many?10Then Jesus said, "Have the men sit down to eat." Now, there was much grass in that place. And so the men, in number about five thousand, sat down to eat11Therefore, Jesus took the bread, and when he had given thanks, he distributed it to those who were sitting down to eat; similarly also, from the fish, as much as they wanted12Then, when they were filled, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments that are left over, lest they be lost.13And so they gathered, and they filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which were left over from those who had eaten14Therefore, those men, when they had seen that Jesus had accomplished a sign, they said, "Truly, this one is the Prophet who is to come into the world.15And so, when he realized that they were going to come and take him away and make him king, Jesus fled back to the mountain, by himself alone
Sermon
The first reading from Acts reminds us of the early Christian community’s struggles and the wisdom of Gamaliel, a Pharisee who cautioned the Sanhedrin against persecuting the Apostles. He recalled how previous movements led by Theudas and Judas the Galilean had failed because they were not of God. Gamaliel’s advice was rooted in his understanding that if the Apostles’ mission was truly from God, it could not be stopped, and opposing it might mean fighting against God Himself. This passage highlights the importance of discernment and trust in God’s plan, even in the face of uncertainty or opposition.
The Gospel reading from John recounts the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, a powerful sign of Jesus’ divine authority. Faced with a hungry crowd, Jesus tested Philip’s faith, and through the meager offering of a boy’s five barley loaves and two fish, He provided abundantly for all. This miracle not only satisfied the people’s physical hunger but also revealed Jesus as the Prophet who would fulfill God’s promises. The leftovers gathered into twelve baskets symbolize God’s generosity and the idea that His grace is always more than enough, even in our own lives.
Both readings invite us to reflect on trust and discernment. Like Gamaliel, we are called to approach challenges with wisdom and openness, recognizing that God’s work cannot be hindered. Like the crowd in John’s Gospel, we often face situations where our resources seem insufficient, but Jesus shows us that even the smallest offerings can become something extraordinary when placed in His hands. Let us learn to trust in God’s providence, to discern His will in our lives, and to share generously what we have, knowing that He multiplies our efforts beyond measure.