Daily Readings - Sat Apr 17 2021

¹Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.²And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.³Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.⁴But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."⁵And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.⁶These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.⁷And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

John

Chapter 6

¹⁶When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,¹⁷got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.¹⁸The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.¹⁹When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.²⁰But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."²¹Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the providence of God. The first reading from Acts 6 describes the early Christian community addressing a practical challenge: the fair distribution of resources to widows. The apostles, recognizing their primary calling to prayer and the ministry of the Word, entrust the task to seven Spirit-filled men, chosen by the community. This solution not only resolves the immediate issue but also strengthens the unity and growth of the Church. The second reading from John’s Gospel presents a dramatic scene of Jesus walking on water to meet his disciples during a storm. Despite their initial fear, Jesus calms their anxieties with the words, “It is I. Do not be afraid,” and leads them safely to their destination. These readings are connected by the theme of trust in God’s providence. In Acts, the early Christians demonstrate trust in the Holy Spirit’s guidance as they select and ordain leaders to serve the community. Similarly, in the Gospel, the disciples learn to trust in Jesus’ presence and power even in the midst of turmoil. Both stories remind us that faith is not about removing challenges but about navigating them with confidence in God’s plan. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are invited to reflect on how we respond to challenges. Do we, like the early Christians, trust in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and the strength of our community? Or do we, like the disciples, allow fear to dominate our hearts? Jesus’ words, “It is I. Do not be afraid,” are a timeless assurance for us today. Whatever storms we face—whether personal struggles, relational conflicts, or uncertainties about the future—we are called to place our trust in God’s loving care. Let us strive to live with the same faith and courage as the early Church, knowing that God’s providence will guide us through even the darkest of times.