Daily Readings - Thu Apr 12 2018
Acts
27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,28saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us."29But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.30The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.32And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."33When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
John
31He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.32He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.33Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.34For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.35The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Sermon
The readings today present a powerful contrast between human authority and divine truth. In the first reading from Acts, Peter and the Apostles stand before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council, refusing to stop preaching about Jesus. Despite the council's orders to silence them, they boldly declare that they must obey God rather than men. This moment captures the early Church's courage in the face of persecution, as they bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus and the salvation he offers. The tension here is clear: the religious leaders see the Apostles as a threat to their authority, but Peter and the others remain steadfast, trusting in God's plan.
In the Gospel, John 3:31-36, Jesus speaks of his divine origin and mission. He comes from above, bearing testimony to what he has seen in heaven, and his words are the words of God. The passage emphasizes the gravity of belief: those who accept Jesus' testimony affirm that God is truthful, and they receive eternal life. Conversely, those who reject him remain under God's wrath. This passage reminds us that faith in Jesus is not merely an intellectual assent but a spiritual surrender to the One who speaks the words of eternal life.
Both readings invite us to reflect on the nature of authority and truth. The Apostles in Acts show us that true authority comes from God, and we must be willing to stand by that truth, even when it costs us. Jesus in John reminds us that his words are not merely human opinions but divine revelations. In our daily lives, we are often faced with choices between conforming to the world's expectations and following God's will. These readings challenge us to trust in God's plan, to bear witness to his truth, and to remember that our ultimate allegiance is to him. May we, like Peter and the Apostles, have the courage to obey God rather than men, and may we, like Jesus, speak and live according to the truth that brings eternal life.