Daily Readings - Thu Apr 12 2018
Acts
27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.33When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
John
31He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.32And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.33He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.34For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.35The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Sermon
The readings today present a powerful contrast between human authority and divine truth. In the first reading from Acts, Peter and the Apostles stand before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council, refusing to stop preaching about Jesus. Despite the council's orders to silence them, they boldly declare that they must obey God rather than men. This moment captures the early Church's courage in the face of persecution, as they bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus and the salvation he offers. The tension here is clear: the religious leaders see the Apostles as a threat to their authority, but Peter and the others remain steadfast, trusting in God's plan.
In the Gospel, John 3:31-36, Jesus speaks of his divine origin and mission. He comes from above, bearing testimony to what he has seen in heaven, and his words are the words of God. The passage emphasizes the gravity of belief: those who accept Jesus' testimony affirm that God is truthful, and they receive eternal life. Conversely, those who reject him remain under God's wrath. This passage reminds us that faith in Jesus is not merely an intellectual assent but a spiritual surrender to the One who speaks the words of eternal life.
Both readings invite us to reflect on the nature of authority and truth. The Apostles in Acts show us that true authority comes from God, and we must be willing to stand by that truth, even when it costs us. Jesus in John reminds us that his words are not merely human opinions but divine revelations. In our daily lives, we are often faced with choices between conforming to the world's expectations and following God's will. These readings challenge us to trust in God's plan, to bear witness to his truth, and to remember that our ultimate allegiance is to him. May we, like Peter and the Apostles, have the courage to obey God rather than men, and may we, like Jesus, speak and live according to the truth that brings eternal life.