Daily Readings - Thu May 04 2017
Acts
26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place.27And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship28and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.29And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot."30So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"31And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.32Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth.33In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth."34And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?"35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.36And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?"37See Footnote38And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
John
44No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.45It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me--46not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.47Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.48I am the bread of life.49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
Sermon
In today's readings, we witness the profound interplay of divine guidance and human response. The first reading from Acts 8:26-40 illustrates the Spirit's active role in spreading the Gospel. Philip, led by the Spirit, encounters an Ethiopian eunuch who is seeking understanding of Scripture. Through Philip's explanation, the eunuch comes to faith in Jesus and is baptized, experiencing the joy of new life in Christ. This narrative highlights the Spirit's initiative and the importance of being open to divine promptings.
The Gospel from John 6:44-51 complements this by emphasizing God's role in drawing individuals to Himself. Jesus, the bread of life, offers eternal life to those who believe. This teaching underscores that faith is a gift from God, initiated by Him. Just as the eunuch's encounter was divinely orchestrated, our faith journeys are also part of God's larger plan.
In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God's providence and be attentive to His Spirit. Like Philip, we should be ready to share the Gospel when opportunities arise. Reflecting on Jesus as the bread of life, we are reminded to nurture our faith and rely on His grace. The eunuch's joy after baptism encourages us to embrace the transformative power of faith, trusting in God's plan and being instruments of His will.