Daily Readings - Sun Apr 14 2024
Acts
13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.14But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.17"And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.18But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.19Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,
1 John
1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.2He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.3And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.4Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,5but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him:
Luke
35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.36As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!"37But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.38And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?39See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.41And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"42They gave him a piece of broiled fish,43and he took it and ate before them.44Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,46and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.48You are witnesses of these things.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the fulfillment of God's plan. The first reading from Acts finds Peter addressing a crowd, acknowledging their role in Jesus' death but also highlighting the opportunity for forgiveness through repentance. The second reading from 1 John emphasizes Jesus as our advocate, whose sacrifice covers not just our sins but those of the entire world. It underscores the importance of living according to God's commandments as a testament to our faith. The Gospel from Luke narrates Jesus' appearance to his disciples post-resurrection, where he proves his physical presence and commissions them to spread the message of repentance and forgiveness.
These readings interweave to reveal the tapestry of God's plan. Peter's call to repentance, John's emphasis on living out faith through love and commandments, and Luke's account of Jesus' commission all point to the central message of redemption and the responsibility that comes with it. Together, they illustrate that our faith is not just about belief but about action—living in a way that reflects God's love and forgiveness.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are reminded to seek forgiveness and to extend it to others. Just as the disciples were commissioned, we too are called to share the message of God's love. The moral lesson here is clear: recognizing our sins, seeking forgiveness, and living a life that embodies God's commandments. As we go about our days, may we carry this message of redemption and love, allowing it to transform not just our own lives but the lives of those around us.