Daily Readings - Sun Apr 30 2023
Acts
14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.36Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."37Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"38And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."40And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."41So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
1 Peter
20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
John
1"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.2But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.3To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.5A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."6This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.7So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about faith, discipleship, and the abundant life offered by Christ. The first reading from Acts describes the dramatic moment when Peter preaches to the crowd after the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. His words cut to the heart of the people, leading three thousand to repentance and baptism. This passage reminds us of the transformative power of the Gospel and the importance of responding with faith and humility.
The second reading from 1 Peter connects suffering with discipleship. Peter reminds us that following Christ means enduring trials patiently, just as Jesus did. Christ, the sinless one, bore our sins on the cross, demonstrating the path of selfless love and forgiveness. This passage challenges us to embrace our struggles as opportunities to grow in holiness and to trust in God’s plan, even when the road is difficult.
In the Gospel, Jesus describes Himself as the door of the sheepfold, emphasizing that He is the only true way to salvation and abundant life. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls us by name and leads us to green pastures. This image invites us to reflect on our relationship with Christ: are we listening to His voice? Are we following Him through the narrow gate of faith, even when it means letting go of worldly distractions?
Today’s readings call us to live as disciples of Christ, trusting in His guidance, enduring trials with patience, and embracing the abundant life He offers. Let us ask ourselves: Am I truly following Christ, the Good Shepherd? Am I listening to His voice and living according to His teachings? May we, like the first Christians, respond to the Gospel with faith, repentance, and a commitment to live as children of God.