Daily Readings - Sun Apr 25 2021
Acts
7And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,9if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man is standing before you well.11This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.12And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
1 John
1See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.2Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
John
11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.12He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.13He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.16And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on faith, identity, and the boundless love of God. The first reading from Acts 4:7-12 presents Peter and John before the Sanhedrin, where they boldly declare that the healing of the man was through the power of Jesus Christ. Peter’s testimony underscores Jesus as the cornerstone of salvation, emphasizing that there is no other name through which we can be saved. This moment highlights the early Church’s courage in the face of adversity and the central role of Jesus in their mission.
The second reading from 1 John 3:1-2 shifts our gaze to the profound love of the Father, who calls us His children. John reminds us that our true identity as sons and daughters of God is not fully realized yet, but we will see Him as He is when He appears. This passage invites us to live with hope and anticipation, knowing that our transformation into His likeness is forthcoming.
In the Gospel, John 10:11-18, Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. He distinguishes Himself from a hired hand, who flees in danger, by emphasizing His deep concern and love for His flock. Jesus extends His mission beyond the current fold, envisioning a unified flock under one shepherd. His voluntary sacrifice and authority to lay down and take up His life again are acts of divine love, fulfilling the Father’s command.
These readings interweave to reveal the universal scope of God’s salvation and our identity as His children. They remind us to trust in Jesus’ care and to live as His followers, guided by His example of selfless love. As we navigate life’s challenges, may we draw strength from the Good Shepherd, embrace our divine identity, and share the hope of eternal life with others, trusting in the transformative power of God’s love.