Daily Readings - Sat Apr 17 2021

¹In those days, as the number of disciples was increasing, there occurred a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were treated with disdain in the daily ministration²And so the twelve, calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: "It is not fair for us to leave behind the Word of God to serve at tables also³Therefore, brothers, search among yourselves for seven men of good testimony, filled with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom, whom we may appoint over this work⁴Yet truly, we will be continually in prayer and in the ministry of the Word.⁵And the plan pleased the entire multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a new arrival from Antioch⁶These they set before the sight of the Apostles, and while praying, they imposed hands on them⁷And the Word of the Lord was increasing, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem was multiplied exceedingly. And even a large group of the priests were obedient to the faith

John

Chapter 6

¹⁶Then, when evening arrived, his disciples descended to the sea¹⁷And when they had climbed into a boat, they went across the sea to Capernaum. And darkness had now arrived, and Jesus had not returned to them¹⁸Then the sea was stirred up by a great wind that was blowing¹⁹And so, when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat, and they were afraid²⁰But he said to them: "It is I. Do not be afraid.²¹Therefore, they were willing to receive him into the boat. But immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the providence of God. The first reading from Acts 6 describes the early Christian community addressing a practical challenge: the fair distribution of resources to widows. The apostles, recognizing their primary calling to prayer and the ministry of the Word, entrust the task to seven Spirit-filled men, chosen by the community. This solution not only resolves the immediate issue but also strengthens the unity and growth of the Church. The second reading from John’s Gospel presents a dramatic scene of Jesus walking on water to meet his disciples during a storm. Despite their initial fear, Jesus calms their anxieties with the words, “It is I. Do not be afraid,” and leads them safely to their destination. These readings are connected by the theme of trust in God’s providence. In Acts, the early Christians demonstrate trust in the Holy Spirit’s guidance as they select and ordain leaders to serve the community. Similarly, in the Gospel, the disciples learn to trust in Jesus’ presence and power even in the midst of turmoil. Both stories remind us that faith is not about removing challenges but about navigating them with confidence in God’s plan. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are invited to reflect on how we respond to challenges. Do we, like the early Christians, trust in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and the strength of our community? Or do we, like the disciples, allow fear to dominate our hearts? Jesus’ words, “It is I. Do not be afraid,” are a timeless assurance for us today. Whatever storms we face—whether personal struggles, relational conflicts, or uncertainties about the future—we are called to place our trust in God’s loving care. Let us strive to live with the same faith and courage as the early Church, knowing that God’s providence will guide us through even the darkest of times.