Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 22, 2021
First Reading: Acts 8.26-40
26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place.27And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship28and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.29And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot."30So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"31And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.32Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth.33In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth."34And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?"35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.36And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?"37See Footnote38And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Psalm 66
1Shout for joy to God, all the earth;2sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!3Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.4All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name." Selah5Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.6He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him,7who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations--let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah8Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard,9who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.10For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.11You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs;12you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.13I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you,14that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.15I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah16Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.17I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue.18If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.19But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.20Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!
Gospel: John 6.44-51
44No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.45It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me--46not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.47Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.48I am the bread of life.49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful narratives that illuminate the journey of faith and the divine hand that guides it. The first reading from Acts recounts the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, a moment of profound conversion. Philip, directed by the Spirit, approaches the eunuch who is pondering the prophet Isaiah. Through Philip’s explanation, the eunuch comes to faith and is baptized, exemplifying the transformative power of God’s word and the importance of spiritual guidance.
The Gospel from John presents Jesus as the Bread of Life, emphasizing that faith is a divine gift. Jesus explains that no one comes to Him unless drawn by the Father, highlighting the mysterious and gracious nature of God’s call. This teaching underscores that faith is not a human achievement but a response to God’s initiative, a truth that humbles and frees us.
Both readings converge on the theme of divine guidance and the gift of faith. Philip’s encounter with the eunuch and Jesus’ discourse on the Bread of Life remind us that our faith journey is not solitary but guided by the Spirit. In our daily lives, we are called to embrace this truth with humility and gratitude, trusting in God’s plan and seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus, the source of eternal life. Let us remain open to the Spirit’s leading and share the gift of faith with others, just as Philip did, trusting in God’s providence to bring others to Himself.