Daily Readings - Thu Apr 04 2024
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 readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith, the call to repentance, and the fulfillment of God’s plan. In the first reading from Acts, Peter addresses the crowd after the healing of the lame man, emphasizing that the miracle was not by their own power but through faith in Jesus. He calls the people to repentance, linking Jesus to the prophets and the covenant promises. In the Gospel, Luke recounts Jesus appearing to the disciples after his resurrection, showing them his wounds and eating with them to confirm his bodily presence. He then opens their minds to understand the Scriptures, which foretold his suffering, resurrection, and the mission to preach repentance and forgiveness to all nations.
Both readings highlight the connection between faith and action. Peter’s speech in Acts shows how faith in Jesus leads to healing and transformation, while Jesus in Luke commissions the disciples to be witnesses of his resurrection and to spread the message of salvation. The context of these readings is crucial: Acts reflects the early church’s missionary spirit, while Luke’s account emphasizes the disciples’ transition from fear to understanding and mission. Together, they remind us that faith is not passive but active, leading us to share the Good News and live with compassion and courage.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to trust in God’s power, even when circumstances seem impossible. Like the lame man, we may feel broken or limited, but faith can restore us. Like the disciples, we may struggle with doubt or fear, but encountering Jesus can transform us. The moral lesson is clear: repentance and forgiveness are not just spiritual concepts but lived realities. As followers of Christ, we are called to be witnesses of his love and to share it with others. Let us embrace this call with humility, faith, and a willingness to be instruments of God’s healing and grace in the world.