Daily Readings - Sun May 03 2020
Acts
14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.36Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."37Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"38And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."40And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."41So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
1 Peter
20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
John
1"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.2But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.3To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.5A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."6This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.7So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about faith, redemption, and the true nature of our relationship with God. The first reading from Acts describes the pivotal moment after Pentecost, where Peter's impassioned speech leads thousands to baptism, illustrating the transformative power of faith and the early church's rapid growth. The second reading from 1 Peter emphasizes enduring suffering with patience, using Christ's example of sinless endurance, reminding us that our sins are borne by Him for us to live justly. The Gospel from John presents Jesus as the door to the sheepfold, offering salvation and abundant life, contrasting with those who would harm, reinforcing Jesus as our true Shepherd.
These readings are deeply connected, each highlighting Jesus as the source of salvation and guidance. Acts shows the communal response to faith, 1 Peter focuses on individual endurance inspired by Christ's example, and John's Gospel symbolizes Jesus as the sole entry to eternal life. Together, they call us to recognize Jesus as our Shepherd, guiding us through life's trials.
In daily life, this means trusting Jesus as our guide, especially in challenging times. The moral lesson is clear: by following Jesus, we find abundant life and the strength to endure patiently, trusting in His divine plan. Let us embrace this truth, allowing His guidance to lead us to a life of purpose and peace.