Daily Readings - Thu Apr 21 2022
Acts
11Then, as he held on to Peter and John, all the people ran to them at the portico, which is called Solomon’s, in astonishment12But Peter, seeing this, responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this? Or why do you stare at us, as if it were by our own strength or power that we caused this man to walk13The 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 witnesses16And by faith in his name, this man, whom you have seen and known, has confirmed his name. And faith through him has given this man complete health in the sight of you all17And 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 away20And then, when the time of consolation will have arrived from the presence of the Lord, he will send the One who was foretold to you, Jesus Christ21whom heaven certainly must take up, until the time of the restoration of all things, which God has spoken of by the mouth of his holy prophets, from ages past22Indeed, Moses said: ‘For the Lord your God shall raise up a Prophet for you from your brothers, one like me; the same shall you listen to according to everything whatsoever that he shall speak to you23And this shall be: every soul who will not listen to that Prophet shall be exterminated from the people.24And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and thereafter, have announced these days25You are sons of the prophets and of the testament which God has appointed for our fathers, saying to Abraham: ‘And by your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed.26God raised up his Son and sent him first to you, to bless you, so that each one may turn himself away from his wickedness.
Luke
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
The first reading from Acts and the Gospel from Luke both center on the profound reality of Jesus Christ’s resurrection and its implications for humanity. In Acts, Peter addresses the crowd that has gathered after the healing of the lame man, explaining that the miracle is not the work of human power but the result of faith in Jesus Christ. He calls the people to repentance, emphasizing that the resurrection of Jesus fulfills the promises of the prophets and opens the way for forgiveness and new life. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection, dispelling their fears and doubts by showing them his physical body. He then opens their minds to understand the Scriptures, revealing that his suffering, death, and resurrection were necessary to fulfill God’s plan of salvation. Jesus commissions his disciples to be witnesses of these events, spreading the message of repentance and forgiveness to all nations.
Both readings highlight the connection between faith, understanding, and mission. In Acts, Peter connects the healing miracle to the larger story of salvation, showing how Jesus’ resurrection is the key to understanding God’s plan. In Luke, Jesus himself explains how the Scriptures point to his mission and how his disciples are now called to share this message with the world. Together, these readings emphasize that faith in Jesus Christ is not just an intellectual assent but a lived response that transforms lives and calls us to participate in God’s work of redemption.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we encounter and share the risen Christ. Like the disciples, we may sometimes struggle with doubt or fear, but Jesus meets us in our uncertainty, offering us peace and clarity. Like Peter, we are called to witness to the power of Jesus’ name, whether through acts of love, words of truth, or simply living with integrity. The readings also remind us that repentance and forgiveness are not one-time events but ongoing processes that shape our relationship with God and others. May we, like the first disciples, allow the resurrection of Jesus to transform our minds, hearts, and actions, so that we may bear witness to his love and light in a world that so desperately needs it.