Daily Readings - Wed May 04 2022
Acts
1Now in those days, there occurred a great persecution against the Church at Jerusalem. And they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles2But God-fearing men arranged for Stephen’s funeral, and they made a great mourning over him3Then Saul was laying waste to the Church by entering throughout the houses, and dragging away men and women, and committing them to prison4Therefore, those who had been dispersed were traveling around, evangelizing the Word of God5Now Philip, descending to a city of Samaria, was preaching Christ to them6And the crowd was listening intently and with one accord to those things which were being said by Philip, and they were watching the signs which he was accomplishing7For many of them had unclean spirits, and, crying out with a loud voice, these departed from them8And many of the paralytics and the lame were cured
John
35Then Jesus said to them: "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst36But I say to you, that even though you have seen me, you do not believe37All that the Father gives to me shall come to me. And whoever comes to me, I will not cast out38For I descended from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me39Yet this is the will of the Father who sent me: that I should lose nothing out of all that he has given to me, but that I should raise them up on the last day40So then, this is the will of my Father who sent me: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from Acts describes a time of great turmoil for the early Church, as persecution leads to the dispersion of believers. Yet, amidst this chaos, the Gospel spreads as Philip preaches in Samaria, performing miracles and bringing many to faith. This shows us that even in adversity, God's work flourishes. The Gospel from John presents Jesus as the Bread of Life, emphasizing that faith in Him leads to eternal life and fulfillment of the Father's will.
The context of Acts is set just after Stephen's martyrdom, a pivotal moment that intensifies persecution but paradoxically accelerates the spread of Christianity. In John, Jesus' discourse occurs after feeding the multitude, highlighting His divine role as the sustainer of both body and soul. Both readings underscore the theme of spiritual nourishment and the unstoppable nature of God's plan.
Reflecting on these passages, we are reminded that challenges in our lives do not hinder God's work but can be opportunities for growth. Like the early Christians, we should trust in God's providence and remain faithful in sharing the Gospel. Jesus, as the Bread of Life, sustains us, giving us the strength to persevere and spread His message. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's plan and remain steadfast in your faith, for it is through Him that we find true life and purpose.