Daily Readings - Mon May 01 2017
First Reading - Acts 6.8-15
Acts
8And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.9Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.11Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,13And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:14For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.15And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Gospel - John 6.22-29
John
22The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;23Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)24When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, perseverance, and our ultimate purpose as followers of Christ. In the first reading from Acts, we encounter Stephen, a man filled with grace and courage, who performs great signs and miracles. Despite his good works, he faces fierce opposition from those who cannot accept his message. They falsely accuse him of blasphemy and bring him before the council, where he stands firm in his faith, even in the face of hostility. Stephen’s story reminds us that living a life of faith often means facing challenges and misunderstandings, but we must remain steadfast in our commitment to God’s truth.
In the Gospel, Jesus addresses a crowd that has followed him after being fed miraculously. He challenges them to look beyond the physical bread that satisfied their hunger and to seek instead the “bread that endures to eternal life.” Jesus emphasizes that true fulfillment comes not from worldly comforts but from a deep relationship with God. The crowd asks, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus responds simply: “Believe in the one he sent.” This exchange underscores the heart of our faith—trust in God and trust in Jesus, whom He has sent to guide us.
These readings are connected by the theme of faith amidst adversity and the call to seek what truly lasts. Stephen’s courage in the face of persecution and Jesus’ invitation to seek eternal life remind us that our ultimate goal is not comfort or ease but a life rooted in faith and trust in God. In our daily lives, we may face challenges or be tempted to focus on temporary satisfactions. Let us remember to stay grounded in our faith, to seek the bread that truly satisfies, and to trust in God’s plan, even when the path is difficult. May we, like Stephen, remain steadfast in our commitment to the truth, and may we, like the crowd, hunger for the eternal life that only Jesus can give.