Daily Readings - Sun Apr 20 2025
Acts
34Then, Peter, opening his mouth, said: "I have concluded in truth that God is not a respecter of persons37You know that the Word has been made known throughout all Judea. For beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached38Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, traveled around doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil. For God was with him39And we are witnesses of all that he did in the region of Judea and in Jerusalem, he whom they killed by hanging him on a tree40God raised him up on the third day and permitted him to be made manifest41not to all the people, but to the witnesses preordained by God, to those of us who ate and drank with him after he rose again from the dead42And he instructed us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the One who was appointed by God to be the judge of the living and of the dead43To him all the Prophets offer testimony that through his name all who believe in him receive the remission of sins.
First Reading - Colossians 3.1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5.6b-8
Colossians
1Therefore, if you have risen together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God2Consider the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth3For you have died, and so your life is hidden with Christ in God4When Christ, your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory
1 Corinthians
6It is not good for you to glory. Do you not know that a little leaven corrupts the entire mass7Purge the old leaven, so that you may become the new bread, for you are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover, has now been immolated8And so, let us feast, not with the old leaven, not with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth
John
1Then on the first Sabbath, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and she saw that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb2Therefore, she ran and went to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and she said to them, "They have taken the Lord away from the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.3Therefore, Peter departed with the other disciple, and they went to the tomb4Now they both ran together, but the other disciple ran more quickly, ahead of Peter, and so he arrived at the tomb first5And when he bowed down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not yet enter6Then Simon Peter arrived, following him, and he entered the tomb, and he saw the linen cloths lying there7and the separate cloth which had been over his head, not placed with the linen cloths, but in a separate place, wrapped up by itself8Then the other disciple, who had arrived first at the tomb, also entered. And he saw and believed9For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that it was necessary for him to rise again from the dead
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter the profound narrative of Jesus' resurrection and its implications for our faith. The first reading from Acts highlights Peter's testimony, emphasizing Jesus' divine anointing, His ministry of healing, and His resurrection, which is central to our faith. Peter underscores that Jesus' resurrection is not just a historical event but a transformative truth that offers forgiveness through belief. The second reading from Colossians invites us to shift our focus from earthly concerns to heavenly realities, reminding us that our true life is hidden with Christ and will be revealed in glory when He appears. This passage encourages a spiritual mindset, prioritizing eternal over temporal matters. The Gospel from John vividly describes the discovery of the empty tomb, where the disciples' encounter with the empty tomb leads to belief, illustrating the power of faith in the face of doubt and uncertainty.
These readings are intricately connected, each illuminating a facet of the resurrection's significance. Acts provides the historical and theological foundation of the resurrection, while Colossians offers a spiritual perspective, urging us to live in light of this truth. John's Gospel presents the personal, experiential dimension of encountering the risen Christ. Together, they guide us to embrace the resurrection as a living reality that transforms our lives.
Applying these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded to seek the divine in all aspects of our existence. Just as the disciples were transformed by their encounter with the empty tomb, we too can experience transformation by living with faith and hope. The resurrection calls us to reevaluate our priorities, focusing on eternal values and living with the assurance of Christ's presence. This truth invites us to embrace a life of purpose and joy, knowing that our ultimate glory is yet to be revealed. Let us, therefore, live each day with the hope and faith that the resurrection inspires, trusting in God's plan and the promise of eternal life.