Daily Readings - Mon Apr 27 2020

⁸And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.⁹Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.¹⁰But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.¹¹Then they secretly instigated men who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."¹²And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council,¹³and they set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law,¹⁴for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us."¹⁵And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

John

Chapter 6

²²On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.²³Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.²⁴So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.²⁵When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"²⁶Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.²⁷Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal."²⁸Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?"²⁹Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons on faith and courage. The first reading from Acts describes Stephen, a man filled with grace and the Holy Spirit, who faces fierce opposition for his faith. Despite the accusations and hostility, Stephen stands firm, embodying the courage that comes from trusting in God. His story reminds us that living our faith openly can lead to challenges, but with the Holy Spirit's guidance, we can face them with grace. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches the crowd about the importance of seeking eternal life over temporary satisfactions. After the miracle of feeding the 5000, the crowd follows Him, seeking more. Jesus uses this moment to emphasize that true fulfillment comes from believing in Him. He calls us to focus on spiritual nourishment, urging us to labor for that which endures beyond this life. This teaching invites us to reflect on our priorities and where we seek our true satisfaction. Both readings connect through the theme of faith. Stephen's unwavering faith in the face of persecution and Jesus' call to believe in Him for eternal life remind us that faith is our foundation. It is through faith that we find the strength to overcome challenges and the wisdom to discern God's will. Let us strive to deepen our faith, seeking spiritual nourishment and standing firm in our commitment to Christ, even when faced with adversity.