Daily Readings - Thu Apr 27 2023
Acts
26Now an Angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Rise up and go toward the south, to the way which descends from Jerusalem into Gaza, where there is a desert.27And rising up, he went. And behold, an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, powerful under Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasures, had arrived in Jerusalem to worship28And while returning, he was sitting upon his chariot and reading from the prophet Isaiah29Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Draw near and join yourself to this chariot.30And Philip, hurrying, heard him reading from the prophet Isaiah, and he said, "Do you think that you understand what you are reading?31And he said, "But how can I, unless someone will have revealed it to me?" And he asked Philip to climb up and sit with him32Now the place in Scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter. And like a lamb silent before his shearer, so he opened not his mouth33He endured his judgment with humility. Who of his generation shall describe how his life was taken away from the earth?34Then the eunuch responded to Philip, saying: "I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?35Then Philip, opening his mouth and beginning from this Scripture, evangelized Jesus to him36And while they were going along the way, they arrived at a certain water source. And the eunuch said: "There is water. What would prevent me from being baptized?37Then Philip said, "If you believe from your whole heart, it is permitted." And he responded by saying, "I believe the Son of God to be Jesus the Christ.38And he ordered the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch descended into the water. And he baptized him39And when they had ascended from the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him anymore. Then he went on his way, rejoicing40Now Philip was found in Azotus. And continuing on, he evangelized all the cities, until he arrived in Caesarea
John
44No one is able to come to me, unless the Father, who has sent me, has drawn him. And I will raise him up on the last day45It has been written in the Prophets: ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has listened and learned from the Father comes to me46Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God; this one has seen the Father47Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me has eternal life48I am the bread of life49Your fathers ate manna in the desert, and they died50This is the bread which descends from heaven, so that if anyone will eat from it, he may not die51I am the living bread, who descended from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread, he shall live in eternity. And the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives that highlight the essence of faith and evangelism. The first reading from Acts 8:26-40 tells the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip, guided by the Spirit, interprets the prophecy from Isaiah, leading the eunuch to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. This moment of conversion is swift and profound, culminating in baptism. It underscores the early church's missionary zeal and the Spirit's role in spreading the Gospel.
The Gospel from John 6:44-51 shifts our focus to Jesus, who describes Himself as the "bread of life." He emphasizes that faith is a divine gift, drawn from the Father. This teaching follows the feeding of the 5000, contrasting physical nourishment with the eternal life offered through faith in Him. Jesus' words remind us that our spiritual journey is initiated by God, who invites us to partake in His divine plan.
Both readings beautifully intertwine, illustrating the Holy Spirit's role in conversion and the necessity of faith. Philip's obedience to the Spirit and the eunuch's openness to God's word mirror Jesus' teaching on divine invitation. In our daily lives, these passages encourage us to be attentive to the Spirit's guidance, to share the Good News with others, and to trust in God's initiative. They remind us that faith is a gift and that our response to it is crucial. Let us embrace this call with openness and trust, allowing the Spirit to lead us in our mission of love and evangelism.