Daily Readings - Sat Apr 28 2018
Acts
44The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.46And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.47For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"48And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.49And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.50But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.51But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
John
7If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."8Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."9Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.12"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.13Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.14If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the universal call to salvation and the intimate relationship between Jesus and the Father. In the first reading from Acts, we see Paul and Barnabas preaching to the Gentiles after being rejected by the Jews. Despite the persecution they faced, they entrusted their mission to God, shaking the dust from their feet and moving forward with joy and the Holy Spirit. This passage reminds us that the Gospel is meant for all people, and God’s plan is not limited by human rejection or obstacles. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Philip about the unity between Himself and the Father. He emphasizes that seeing Him is seeing the Father and that His works are a manifestation of the Father’s presence within Him. Jesus also promises that those who believe in Him will do even greater works, for He goes to the Father to intercede for us.
These readings are connected by the theme of trust in God’s plan and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. In Acts, Paul and Barnabas trusted that God would use their persecution to spread the Gospel further. In John, Jesus assures His disciples that they will continue His work through the power of the Holy Spirit. Both readings encourage us to have faith in God’s providence, even when we face challenges or uncertainty. They remind us that our actions and words should reflect God’s love and truth, just as Jesus’ actions reflected the Father’s will.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to embrace our role as disciples of Christ. Like Paul and Barnabas, we are called to share the Gospel with courage and perseverance, even when we encounter resistance. Like Philip, we may sometimes doubt or seek clearer signs of God’s presence, but Jesus assures us that He is always with us, working through us. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s plan, to see His hand at work in our lives, and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in doing His will. May we, like the early disciples, be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit as we live out our faith in a world that often rejects it.