Daily Readings - Fri May 05 2023
Acts
26Noble brothers, sons of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, it is to you the Word of this salvation has been sent27For those who were living in Jerusalem, and its rulers, heeding neither him, nor the voices of the Prophets that are read on every Sabbath, fulfilled these by judging him28And although they found no case for death against him, they petitioned Pilate, so that they might put him to death29And when they had fulfilled everything that had been written about him, taking him down from the tree, they placed him in a tomb30Yet truly, God raised him up from the dead on the third day31And he was seen for many days by those who went up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who even now are his witnesses to the people32And we are announcing to you that the Promise, which was made to our fathers33has been fulfilled by God for our children by raising up Jesus, just as it has been written in the second Psalm also: ‘You are my Son. This day I have begotten you.
John
1"Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe in me also2In my Father’s house, there are many dwelling places. If there were not, I would have told you. For I go to prepare a place for you3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will return again, and then I will take you to myself, so that where I am, you also may be4And you know where I am going. And you know the way.5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?6Jesus said to him: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me
Sermon
Dear friends,
Today’s readings guide us through a journey of faith and trust in God’s plan. In the first reading from Acts, Paul addresses the people of Antioch, recounting how the leaders in Jerusalem failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, leading to His crucifixion. Yet, Paul emphasizes that God’s power raised Jesus from the dead, fulfilling the promises made to their ancestors. This highlights the triumph of God’s plan over human misunderstanding.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers comfort to His disciples, preparing them for His departure. He reassures them that He goes to prepare a place for them and promises to return. When Thomas expresses confusion about the way, Jesus declares, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This profound statement underscores Jesus as the ultimate guide and source of eternal life.
Both readings remind us to trust in God’s plan, even when faced with uncertainty. Like the disciples, we may feel lost or uncertain about the future, but Jesus assures us that He is our way. In our daily lives, let us embrace faith and trust in God, recognizing Jesus as our guide through life’s challenges. May we find comfort in His promise and strive to follow Him, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
In closing, let us reflect on the importance of faith and trust in our journey with God. May we find strength in Jesus’ words and live each day guided by His truth. Amen.