Daily Readings - Wed Apr 10 2024
Acts
17But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy18they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,20"Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."21And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council and all the senate of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought.22But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,23"We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside."24Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.25And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people."26Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
John
16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.19And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.20For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God."
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the power of faith and the call to live as children of light in a world often shrouded in darkness. In the first reading from Acts, we see the Apostles facing persecution and imprisonment for their bold proclamation of the Gospel. Yet, even in the face of such opposition, they remain steadfast in their mission. An angel of the Lord frees them from prison, and instead of fleeing, they return to the temple to continue teaching the people. This act of obedience and courage shows us that true faith is not about escaping challenges but about trusting in God’s plan and remaining faithful even when the path is difficult.
In the Gospel, John reminds us of the profound love of God, who sent His only Son into the world not to condemn it but to save it. This passage is a beautiful expression of the heart of the Christian faith: God’s love for the world is so great that He gave us the gift of His Son, Jesus, to bring us eternal life. Yet, John also warns us that this gift comes with a choice. Those who reject the light of Christ choose to remain in darkness, and their refusal to believe is itself a form of judgment. The light of Christ reveals the truth of our actions and the state of our hearts.
These readings call us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Like the Apostles, we are called to be bold in sharing the Gospel, even when it is uncomfortable or challenging. Like the people in John’s Gospel, we are invited to choose the light of Christ over the darkness of sin and indifference. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God’s providence, even when the road ahead seems uncertain? Do we allow the light of Christ to shine in our lives, guiding our actions and decisions? May we, like the Apostles, be courageous in living out our faith, and may we, like those who accept the light of Christ, walk in truth and love.