Daily Readings - Thu Apr 27 2023
Acts
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.
John
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 highlight the essence of faith and evangelism. The first reading from Acts 8:26-40 tells the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip, guided by the Spirit, interprets the prophecy from Isaiah, leading the eunuch to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. This moment of conversion is swift and profound, culminating in baptism. It underscores the early church's missionary zeal and the Spirit's role in spreading the Gospel.
The Gospel from John 6:44-51 shifts our focus to Jesus, who describes Himself as the "bread of life." He emphasizes that faith is a divine gift, drawn from the Father. This teaching follows the feeding of the 5000, contrasting physical nourishment with the eternal life offered through faith in Him. Jesus' words remind us that our spiritual journey is initiated by God, who invites us to partake in His divine plan.
Both readings beautifully intertwine, illustrating the Holy Spirit's role in conversion and the necessity of faith. Philip's obedience to the Spirit and the eunuch's openness to God's word mirror Jesus' teaching on divine invitation. In our daily lives, these passages encourage us to be attentive to the Spirit's guidance, to share the Good News with others, and to trust in God's initiative. They remind us that faith is a gift and that our response to it is crucial. Let us embrace this call with openness and trust, allowing the Spirit to lead us in our mission of love and evangelism.