Daily Readings - Tue Apr 16 2024
Acts
51"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.52Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,53you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it."54Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.55But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.56And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."57But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.58Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.59And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."60And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
John
30So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?31Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"32Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."34They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."35Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, persecution, and the true nourishment of our souls. The first reading from Acts recounts the martyrdom of Stephen, one of the first deacons of the early Christian church. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, courageously proclaims his faith before the Sanhedrin, despite knowing the peril that awaits him. His unwavering commitment to Christ leads to his stoning, during which he forgives his persecutors, echoing Christ's words on the cross. This act of forgiveness and faith in the face of death highlights the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the enduring nature of the Gospel message.
The Gospel reading from John presents Jesus as the Bread of Life, a theme central to the Eucharistic theology of the Church. Jesus explains that He is the true bread from heaven, surpassing the manna given to the Israelites in the desert. This bread is not merely sustenance for the body but spiritual nourishment that brings eternal life. Jesus' declaration, "I am the bread of life," invites us to place our trust in Him, just as Stephen did, even in the face of adversity. This trust is not passive but active, calling us to follow Him and partake in His divine life through the Eucharist.
These readings remind us that our faith is not merely an intellectual assent but a lived commitment. Like Stephen, we are called to bear witness to Christ, even when it is challenging. Jesus, the Bread of Life, strengthens us for this journey. As we navigate the trials of our own lives, let us turn to Him, trusting in His providence and grace. May we, like Stephen, forgive those who wrong us and seek to bring them closer to Christ. In doing so, we participate in the divine life, finding true fulfillment and peace in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.