Daily Readings - Mon May 01 2023
Acts
1Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying,3"You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them."4But Peter began and explained it to them in order:5"I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me.6Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air.7And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'8But I said, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'9But the voice answered a second time from heaven, 'What God has made clean, do not call common.'10This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.11And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.12And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.13And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter;14he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.'15As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.16And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'17If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"18When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life."
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
Today, we reflect on the universal love of God as revealed through the readings from Acts and John. The first reading recounts Peter's vision, where he was instructed to eat animals considered unclean, leading him to understand that God's message is for all people, not just the Jewish community. This vision prompted Peter to baptize Gentiles, showing the early Church's expansion beyond its initial boundaries.
In the Gospel, Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd, emphasizing His care for all sheep, including those beyond the Jewish fold. This aligns with Peter's experience, as both narratives highlight God's plan to include everyone in His grace. The context of these readings is rooted in the early Church's struggle to embrace Gentiles and Jesus' mission to extend His message beyond the Jewish community.
These readings remind us to embrace diversity and recognize God's presence in everyone. In our daily lives, we are called to be instruments of unity, reflecting God's universal love. The moral lesson here is clear: God's love knows no bounds, and we should strive to be inclusive, just as Jesus and Peter were. Let us be open to embracing all people, as we are all part of God's flock under one Shepherd.