Daily Readings - Sun Apr 14 2024

¹³The 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 witnesses¹⁷And 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 away

1 John

Chapter 2

¹My little sons, this I write to you, so that you may not sin. But if anyone has sinned, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Just One²And he is the propitiation for our sins. And not only for our sins, but also for those of the whole world³And we can be sure that we have known him by this: if we observe his commandments⁴Whoever claims that he knows him, and yet does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him⁵But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the charity of God is perfected. And by this we know that we are in him

Luke

Chapter 24

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

In today's readings, we journey through themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the fulfillment of God's plan. The first reading from Acts finds Peter addressing a crowd, acknowledging their role in Jesus' death but also highlighting the opportunity for forgiveness through repentance. The second reading from 1 John emphasizes Jesus as our advocate, whose sacrifice covers not just our sins but those of the entire world. It underscores the importance of living according to God's commandments as a testament to our faith. The Gospel from Luke narrates Jesus' appearance to his disciples post-resurrection, where he proves his physical presence and commissions them to spread the message of repentance and forgiveness. These readings interweave to reveal the tapestry of God's plan. Peter's call to repentance, John's emphasis on living out faith through love and commandments, and Luke's account of Jesus' commission all point to the central message of redemption and the responsibility that comes with it. Together, they illustrate that our faith is not just about belief but about action—living in a way that reflects God's love and forgiveness. Applying this to our daily lives, we are reminded to seek forgiveness and to extend it to others. Just as the disciples were commissioned, we too are called to share the message of God's love. The moral lesson here is clear: recognizing our sins, seeking forgiveness, and living a life that embodies God's commandments. As we go about our days, may we carry this message of redemption and love, allowing it to transform not just our own lives but the lives of those around us.