Daily Readings - Mon May 01 2017
Acts
8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.9Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.11Then they secretly instigated men who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."12And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council,13and they set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law,14for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us."15And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
John
22On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.23Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.24So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"26Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.27Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal."28Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?"29Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, perseverance, and our ultimate purpose as followers of Christ. In the first reading from Acts, we encounter Stephen, a man filled with grace and courage, who performs great signs and miracles. Despite his good works, he faces fierce opposition from those who cannot accept his message. They falsely accuse him of blasphemy and bring him before the council, where he stands firm in his faith, even in the face of hostility. Stephen’s story reminds us that living a life of faith often means facing challenges and misunderstandings, but we must remain steadfast in our commitment to God’s truth.
In the Gospel, Jesus addresses a crowd that has followed him after being fed miraculously. He challenges them to look beyond the physical bread that satisfied their hunger and to seek instead the “bread that endures to eternal life.” Jesus emphasizes that true fulfillment comes not from worldly comforts but from a deep relationship with God. The crowd asks, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus responds simply: “Believe in the one he sent.” This exchange underscores the heart of our faith—trust in God and trust in Jesus, whom He has sent to guide us.
These readings are connected by the theme of faith amidst adversity and the call to seek what truly lasts. Stephen’s courage in the face of persecution and Jesus’ invitation to seek eternal life remind us that our ultimate goal is not comfort or ease but a life rooted in faith and trust in God. In our daily lives, we may face challenges or be tempted to focus on temporary satisfactions. Let us remember to stay grounded in our faith, to seek the bread that truly satisfies, and to trust in God’s plan, even when the path is difficult. May we, like Stephen, remain steadfast in our commitment to the truth, and may we, like the crowd, hunger for the eternal life that only Jesus can give.