Daily Readings - Sun Apr 22 2018

⁷And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,⁹if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,¹⁰let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man is standing before you well.¹¹This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.¹²And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

1 John

Chapter 3

¹See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.²Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

John

Chapter 10

¹¹I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.¹²He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.¹³He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.¹⁴I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.¹⁶And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.¹⁷For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.¹⁸No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound truth of our salvation through Jesus Christ and our identity as His children. In the first reading from Acts, Peter boldly proclaims to the religious leaders that the healing of the man was through the power of Jesus, whom they had crucified but God raised from the dead. Peter emphasizes that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus, making Him the cornerstone of our faith. This passage, set in the early days of the Church, shows the courage of the apostles as they spread the message of salvation despite opposition. In the second reading from 1 John, we are reminded of the incredible love of the Father that makes us His children. John encourages us to live with hope, knowing that we will one day see Christ as He is and be transformed into His likeness. This letter, written to strengthen the faith of early believers, underscores our identity and future hope in Christ. The Gospel from John presents Jesus as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. Jesus highlights the difference between a hired hand, who abandons the flock in danger, and the Good Shepherd, who willingly sacrifices for His sheep. He also speaks of other sheep not yet part of His fold, indicating His mission to unite all people under His care. This passage, part of Jesus' teachings, emphasizes His role as the selfless and loving shepherd. These readings are interconnected through the theme of salvation and the unique role of Jesus. Peter's bold declaration, John's encouragement, and Jesus' own words all point to the central truth that Jesus is our only Savior. As we apply this to our daily lives, we are called to trust in Jesus' care and live as His children, reflecting His love and hope. The moral lesson is clear: our salvation is through Jesus alone, and we should live with the hope and assurance of being His children, striving to follow His example of selfless love.