Daily Readings - Thu May 04 2017
First Reading - Acts 8.26-40
Acts
26And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.27And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,28Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.29Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.32The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.39And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Gospel - John 6.44-51
John
44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.46Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.48I am that bread of life.49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Sermon
In today's readings, we witness the profound interplay of divine guidance and human response. The first reading from Acts 8:26-40 illustrates the Spirit's active role in spreading the Gospel. Philip, led by the Spirit, encounters an Ethiopian eunuch who is seeking understanding of Scripture. Through Philip's explanation, the eunuch comes to faith in Jesus and is baptized, experiencing the joy of new life in Christ. This narrative highlights the Spirit's initiative and the importance of being open to divine promptings.
The Gospel from John 6:44-51 complements this by emphasizing God's role in drawing individuals to Himself. Jesus, the bread of life, offers eternal life to those who believe. This teaching underscores that faith is a gift from God, initiated by Him. Just as the eunuch's encounter was divinely orchestrated, our faith journeys are also part of God's larger plan.
In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God's providence and be attentive to His Spirit. Like Philip, we should be ready to share the Gospel when opportunities arise. Reflecting on Jesus as the bread of life, we are reminded to nurture our faith and rely on His grace. The eunuch's joy after baptism encourages us to embrace the transformative power of faith, trusting in God's plan and being instruments of His will.