Daily Readings - Fri Apr 06 2018
First Reading - Acts 4.1-12
Acts
1And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,2Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.3And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.5And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,6And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Gospel - John 21.1-14
John
1After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.2There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.8And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.9As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.10Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.12Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.13Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the power of faith and the transformative presence of Jesus in our lives. In the first reading from Acts, Peter and John stand courageously before the religious leaders, refusing to be silenced in their proclamation of the Gospel. Despite the threats and opposition, they boldly declare that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ, the cornerstone rejected by the builders. This passage highlights the early Christian community's unwavering commitment to spreading the message of salvation, even in the face of persecution. It also underscores the idea that true authority comes not from human power but from God.
In the Gospel, we see a different kind of transformation. Jesus appears to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, where they had been fishing all night without success. At Jesus' command, they cast their nets once more and haul in an abundance of fish. This miraculous catch symbolizes the disciples' return to faith and their readiness to follow Jesus' guidance. The scene by the fire, where Jesus shares bread and fish with them, evokes a sense of intimacy and renewal. It reminds us that even after moments of doubt or failure, Jesus is always present, offering us strength and direction.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Like Peter and John, we are called to stand firm in our faith, even when faced with challenges or opposition. Like the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, we are reminded to trust in God's providence and to be open to the unexpected ways He works in our lives. Jesus' presence in both readings—whether in the courage of the apostles or in the abundance of the catch—teaches us that He is always with us, guiding us and empowering us to live as His disciples. Let us, therefore, embrace His call to trust, obey, and share the Good News with the world.