Daily Readings - Sun May 05 2019
Acts
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."40and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.41Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
Revelation
11Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,12saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"13And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"14And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.
John
1After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.2Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.3Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.4Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.5Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered him, "No."6He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.7That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.8The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.9When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."11So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.12Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.14This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."16He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."17He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.18Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go."19(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me."
Sermon
Dear friends in Christ,
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the profound themes of faith, persecution, divine glory, and the call to serve. In the First Reading from Acts, we witness the unwavering courage of Peter and the Apostles as they face persecution for preaching the name of Jesus. Despite being beaten and warned, they rejoice in their suffering, recognizing it as a privilege to endure for the sake of the Gospel. This passage reminds us that our faith is not about comfort or convenience but about obedience to God’s will, even when it leads to hardship.
The Second Reading from Revelation shifts our gaze to the heavenly realm, where the Lamb who was slain is glorified and adored by all creation. This majestic hymn of praise underscores the central mystery of our faith: Jesus, the crucified and risen Lord, is worthy of all honor and worship. The scene in Revelation invites us to lift our eyes beyond the trials of this world and to behold the eternal glory of the Lamb who has triumphed over sin and death.
In the Gospel, we encounter the risen Jesus on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias. This post-resurrection appearance is both a moment of reunion and a commissioning. Jesus’ conversation with Peter is particularly significant. Three times, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him, and three times, Peter affirms his love. Each time, Jesus responds with a call to action: “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” “Feed my sheep.” This exchange is not just about Peter’s personal devotion but about his mission to care for the flock of Christ. It is a powerful reminder that our love for Jesus must be expressed in concrete acts of service and care for others.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to challenges and setbacks in our own lives? Do we, like the Apostles, rejoice in suffering for the sake of the Gospel? Do we, like the heavenly host, worship Jesus with the fullness of our hearts? And do we, like Peter, allow our love for Jesus to translate into tangible acts of service and compassion?
May these readings inspire us to live with courage, worship with abandon, and serve with love. Let us follow Jesus, even when the path is uncertain, trusting that He will guide us and empower us to bear witness to His name in a world that so desperately needs His light and love. Amen.