Daily Readings - Thu Apr 05 2018
First Reading - Acts 3.11-26
Acts
11And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.17And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.18But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.22For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.23And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.24Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.25Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.26Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Gospel - Luke 24.35-48
Luke
35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.36And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.37But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.38And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?39Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.40And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.43And he took it, and did eat before them.44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.48And ye are witnesses of these things.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful moments of revelation and faith. In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter addresses a crowd that has gathered after he and John heal a lame man. Peter makes it clear that the healing is not due to their own power but to the power of Jesus Christ. He calls the people to repentance, emphasizing that their sins can be wiped away through faith in Jesus. Peter’s words are a call to conversion, urging the people to turn away from their sins and embrace the mercy of God. This passage reminds us that the Church’s mission is rooted in the proclamation of Jesus Christ and the call to repentance, which is as relevant today as it was in Peter’s time.
In the Gospel, Luke describes the moment when Jesus appears to the disciples after his resurrection. The disciples are filled with fear and doubt, thinking they are seeing a ghost. Jesus calms their fears by showing them his physical body and eating with them. He then opens their minds to understand the Scriptures, which point to his suffering, death, and resurrection. This passage highlights the importance of faith and the role of Scripture in helping us understand God’s plan. Just as the disciples needed Jesus to open their minds, we too need the Holy Spirit to enlighten us as we read and reflect on God’s word.
These readings remind us that faith is not just intellectual assent but a lived experience. Like Peter, we are called to be witnesses of Christ’s love and power in the world. Like the disciples, we are invited to encounter Jesus in the Scriptures and in the breaking of bread. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask the Holy Spirit to open our minds and hearts to the truth of the Gospel. May we, like Peter and the disciples, be transformed by the power of Christ and share that transformation with others. The call to repentance and faith is not just for those who lived in biblical times—it is for us today. Let us embrace this call and live as witnesses of the risen Lord.