Daily Readings - Sun Apr 18 2021

¹³The 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 witnesses¹⁷And 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 away

1 John

Chapter 2

¹My little sons, this I write to you, so that you may not sin. But if anyone has sinned, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Just One²And he is the propitiation for our sins. And not only for our sins, but also for those of the whole world³And we can be sure that we have known him by this: if we observe his commandments⁴Whoever claims that he knows him, and yet does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him⁵But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the charity of God is perfected. And by this we know that we are in him

Luke

Chapter 24

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

In today’s readings, we encounter profound truths about God’s plan of salvation, the call to repentance, and the enduring power of faith. The first reading from Acts finds Peter addressing the people of Jerusalem, urging them to recognize their role in the death of Jesus. Yet, he quickly shifts from accusation to hope, explaining that their actions, though misguided, fulfilled God’s plan. Peter calls them to repentance, promising that their sins can be wiped away through conversion. This passage reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God’s mercy is always available. The second reading from 1 John deepens this message, emphasizing Jesus’ role as our Advocate before the Father. John reminds us that while we may sin, Jesus’ sacrifice covers not only our sins but those of the entire world. However, this gift of forgiveness is not without expectation. John stresses that true knowledge of God is demonstrated by obedience to His commandments. This reading challenges us to examine our lives: do our actions reflect our faith, or are we merely paying lip service to God’s love? In the Gospel, Luke recounts the moment when Jesus appears to His disciples after the resurrection. Despite their fear and disbelief, Jesus offers them peace and proof of His bodily presence. He then opens their minds to understand the Scriptures, showing how His suffering, death, and resurrection were all part of God’s plan. This passage invites us to reflect on how we encounter Jesus in our own lives—through prayer, Scripture, and the breaking of bread—and how these encounters should transform us. These readings, when taken together, offer a powerful message about the interconnectedness of sin, forgiveness, and faith. They remind us that while we are all capable of failing God, His mercy is boundless. Yet, this mercy calls us to action: to repent, to obey, and to live as witnesses of the risen Christ. As we go about our daily lives, may we embrace this call, allowing the love and forgiveness of God to shape our choices and transform our hearts. Let us strive to live in such a way that our lives become a testament to the power of God’s grace, just as the early disciples bore witness to the resurrection.