Daily Readings - Fri Apr 14 2023
Acts
1And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,2greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.3And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.4But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.5On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem,6with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.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."
John
1After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.2Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.3Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.4Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.5Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered him, "No."6He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.7That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.8The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.9When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."11So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.12Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.14This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the power of faith and obedience to God’s will, even in the face of challenges and uncertainties. In the first reading from Acts, Peter and John are arrested for preaching about Jesus, but Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly declares that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. This moment highlights the courage and conviction of the early disciples, who risked persecution to spread the Good News. The context of this passage is the early Christian Church, where believers faced opposition from religious and political authorities. Despite this, the apostles remained steadfast, trusting in God’s plan and the power of the Holy Spirit to guide them.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus appearing to his disciples after his resurrection. This passage from John emphasizes Jesus’ continued presence and care for his followers, even after his death. The disciples, struggling to catch fish, are reminded of Jesus’ power and provision when he guides them to cast their nets once more. The miraculous catch of fish and the shared meal on the shore symbolize the abundance and renewal that come from trusting in God’s will. This story invites us to reflect on how Jesus continues to work in our lives, often in unexpected ways, and how our obedience to his guidance can lead to spiritual and emotional abundance.
These readings encourage us to trust in God’s plan, even when we face difficulties or uncertainties. Like Peter and John, we are called to be bold in sharing our faith and living according to God’s will. Like the disciples, we are reminded that Jesus is always with us, guiding us and providing for us, even when we feel lost or unsuccessful. Let us ask for the courage to trust in God’s plan and the grace to obey his will, knowing that He will bring us to a place of spiritual abundance and renewal.