Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 16, 2024
First Reading: Acts 7.51 – 8.1a
51Stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you ever resist the Holy Spirit. Just as your fathers did, so also do you do52Which of the Prophets have your fathers not persecuted? And they killed those who foretold the advent of the Just One. And you have now become the betrayers and murderers of him53You received the law by the actions of Angels, and yet you have not kept it.54Then, upon hearing these things, they were deeply wounded in their hearts, and they gnashed their teeth at him55But he, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and gazing intently toward heaven, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.56And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God."57Then they, crying out with a loud voice, blocked their ears and, with one accord, rushed violently toward him58And driving him out, beyond the city, they stoned him. And witnesses placed their garments beside the feet of a youth, who was called Saul59And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.60Then, having been brought to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his murder
Psalm 31
1Unto the end. A Psalm of David according to an ecstasy. In you, Lord, I have hoped; let me never be confounded. In your justice, deliver me2Incline your ear to me. Hasten to rescue me. Be for me a protector God and a house of refuge, so as to accomplish my salvation3For you are my strength and my refuge; and for the sake of your name, you will lead me and nourish me4You will lead me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me. For you are my protector5Into your hands, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth6You have hated those who practice emptiness to no purpose. But I have hoped in the Lord7I will exult and rejoice in your mercy. For you have looked upon my humility; you have saved my soul from needfulness8And you have not enclosed me in the hands of the enemy. You have set my feet in a spacious place9Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am troubled. My eye has been disturbed by wrath, along with my soul and my gut10For my life has fallen into sorrow, and my years into sighing. My virtue has been weakened in poverty, and my bones have been disturbed11I have become a disgrace among all my enemies, and even more so to my neighbors, and a dread to my acquaintances. Those who catch sight of me, flee away from me12I have become forgotten, like one dead to the heart. I have become like a damaged utensil13For I have heard the harsh criticism of many who linger in the area. While assembled together against me in that place, they deliberated on how to take away my life14But I have hoped in you, O Lord. I said, "You are my God.15My fate is in your hands. Rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from those who are persecuting me16Shine your face upon your servant. Save me in your mercy17Do not let me be confounded, Lord, for I have called upon you. Let the impious be ashamed and be drawn down into Hell18May deceitful lips be silenced: those that speak iniquity against the just, in arrogance and in abusiveness19How great is the multitude of your sweetness, O Lord, which you keep hidden for those who fear you, which you have perfected for those who hope in you, in the sight of the sons of men20You hide them in the concealment of your face, from the disturbance of men. You protect them in your tabernacle, from the contradiction of tongues21Blessed is the Lord. For he has shown his wonderful mercy to me, in a fortified city22But I said in the excess of my mind: "I have been cast away from the glance of your eyes." And so, you heeded the voice of my prayer, while I was still crying out to you23Love the Lord, all you his saints. For the Lord will require truth, and he will abundantly repay those who act with arrogance24Act manfully, and let your heart be strengthened, all you who hope in the Lord
Gospel: John 6.30-35
30And so they said to him: "Then what sign will you do, so that we may see it and believe in you? What will you work31Our fathers ate manna in the desert, just as it has been written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ 32Therefore, Jesus said to them: "Amen, amen, I say to you, Moses did not give you bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven33For the bread of God is he who descends from heaven and gives life to the world.34And so they said to him, "Lord, give us this bread always.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 thirst
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, persecution, and the true nourishment of our souls. The first reading from Acts recounts the martyrdom of Stephen, one of the first deacons of the early Christian church. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, courageously proclaims his faith before the Sanhedrin, despite knowing the peril that awaits him. His unwavering commitment to Christ leads to his stoning, during which he forgives his persecutors, echoing Christ's words on the cross. This act of forgiveness and faith in the face of death highlights the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the enduring nature of the Gospel message.
The Gospel reading from John presents Jesus as the Bread of Life, a theme central to the Eucharistic theology of the Church. Jesus explains that He is the true bread from heaven, surpassing the manna given to the Israelites in the desert. This bread is not merely sustenance for the body but spiritual nourishment that brings eternal life. Jesus' declaration, "I am the bread of life," invites us to place our trust in Him, just as Stephen did, even in the face of adversity. This trust is not passive but active, calling us to follow Him and partake in His divine life through the Eucharist.
These readings remind us that our faith is not merely an intellectual assent but a lived commitment. Like Stephen, we are called to bear witness to Christ, even when it is challenging. Jesus, the Bread of Life, strengthens us for this journey. As we navigate the trials of our own lives, let us turn to Him, trusting in His providence and grace. May we, like Stephen, forgive those who wrong us and seek to bring them closer to Christ. In doing so, we participate in the divine life, finding true fulfillment and peace in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.