Daily Readings - Wed Apr 17 2024
Acts
1Now in those days, there occurred a great persecution against the Church at Jerusalem. And they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles2But God-fearing men arranged for Stephen’s funeral, and they made a great mourning over him3Then Saul was laying waste to the Church by entering throughout the houses, and dragging away men and women, and committing them to prison4Therefore, those who had been dispersed were traveling around, evangelizing the Word of God5Now Philip, descending to a city of Samaria, was preaching Christ to them6And the crowd was listening intently and with one accord to those things which were being said by Philip, and they were watching the signs which he was accomplishing7For many of them had unclean spirits, and, crying out with a loud voice, these departed from them8And many of the paralytics and the lame were cured
John
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 thirst36But I say to you, that even though you have seen me, you do not believe37All that the Father gives to me shall come to me. And whoever comes to me, I will not cast out38For I descended from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me39Yet this is the will of the Father who sent me: that I should lose nothing out of all that he has given to me, but that I should raise them up on the last day40So then, this is the will of my Father who sent me: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through two profound narratives that illuminate the essence of faith and perseverance. The first reading from Acts 8 describes a tumultuous period for the early Church, marked by persecution and dispersion. Yet, amidst this turmoil, the believers, empowered by their faith, continued to spread the Word of God. Philip's mission to Samaria exemplifies this, as he preached Christ and performed miracles, leading many to healing and faith. This passage underscores the resilience of the early Church, which thrived even in adversity, demonstrating that challenges can become opportunities for growth and witness.
The Gospel from John 6 shifts our focus to Jesus, who declares Himself the Bread of Life. He assures us that belief in Him will satiate our deepest hungers and quench our spiritual thirst. Jesus emphasizes His alignment with the Father's will, which is to grant eternal life to all who believe. This passage invites us to trust in Jesus as our sustenance and strength, especially in times of trial. Just as the early Christians found the courage to share their faith despite persecution, we too can draw from the eternal life offered by Christ to navigate life's challenges.
Reflecting on these readings, we are reminded that our faith in Jesus equips us to face any adversity with hope and perseverance. Like the early Church, we are called to share the Good News, trusting that God's will prevails. In our daily lives, let us embrace the Bread of Life, allowing His grace to sustain us and inspire us to be beacons of faith and love. May we, like Philip, step out in faith, trusting that God's power will transform lives, even in the face of difficulty.