Daily Readings - Sun Apr 20 2025
Acts
34So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,37you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.39And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,40but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,41not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.42And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.43To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
First Reading - Colossians 3.1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5.6b-8
Colossians
1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.4When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
1 Corinthians
6Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?7Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.8Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
John
1Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."3So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.4Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.5And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,7and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.8Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;9for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter the profound narrative of Jesus' resurrection and its implications for our faith. The first reading from Acts highlights Peter's testimony, emphasizing Jesus' divine anointing, His ministry of healing, and His resurrection, which is central to our faith. Peter underscores that Jesus' resurrection is not just a historical event but a transformative truth that offers forgiveness through belief. The second reading from Colossians invites us to shift our focus from earthly concerns to heavenly realities, reminding us that our true life is hidden with Christ and will be revealed in glory when He appears. This passage encourages a spiritual mindset, prioritizing eternal over temporal matters. The Gospel from John vividly describes the discovery of the empty tomb, where the disciples' encounter with the empty tomb leads to belief, illustrating the power of faith in the face of doubt and uncertainty.
These readings are intricately connected, each illuminating a facet of the resurrection's significance. Acts provides the historical and theological foundation of the resurrection, while Colossians offers a spiritual perspective, urging us to live in light of this truth. John's Gospel presents the personal, experiential dimension of encountering the risen Christ. Together, they guide us to embrace the resurrection as a living reality that transforms our lives.
Applying these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded to seek the divine in all aspects of our existence. Just as the disciples were transformed by their encounter with the empty tomb, we too can experience transformation by living with faith and hope. The resurrection calls us to reevaluate our priorities, focusing on eternal values and living with the assurance of Christ's presence. This truth invites us to embrace a life of purpose and joy, knowing that our ultimate glory is yet to be revealed. Let us, therefore, live each day with the hope and faith that the resurrection inspires, trusting in God's plan and the promise of eternal life.