Daily Readings - Fri May 05 2023
Acts
26"Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.27For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.28And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.29And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.30But God raised him from the dead,31and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.32And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,33this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.'
John
1"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.2In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.4And you know the way to where I am going."5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Sermon
Dear friends,
Today’s readings guide us through a journey of faith and trust in God’s plan. In the first reading from Acts, Paul addresses the people of Antioch, recounting how the leaders in Jerusalem failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, leading to His crucifixion. Yet, Paul emphasizes that God’s power raised Jesus from the dead, fulfilling the promises made to their ancestors. This highlights the triumph of God’s plan over human misunderstanding.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers comfort to His disciples, preparing them for His departure. He reassures them that He goes to prepare a place for them and promises to return. When Thomas expresses confusion about the way, Jesus declares, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This profound statement underscores Jesus as the ultimate guide and source of eternal life.
Both readings remind us to trust in God’s plan, even when faced with uncertainty. Like the disciples, we may feel lost or uncertain about the future, but Jesus assures us that He is our way. In our daily lives, let us embrace faith and trust in God, recognizing Jesus as our guide through life’s challenges. May we find comfort in His promise and strive to follow Him, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
In closing, let us reflect on the importance of faith and trust in our journey with God. May we find strength in Jesus’ words and live each day guided by His truth. Amen.