Daily Readings - Tue Apr 17 2018
Acts
51Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.52Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:53Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.54When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
John
30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.32Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound moments of faith and sacrifice. From Acts, Stephen, a deacon in the early Christian church, faces martyrdom for his unwavering commitment to the Gospel. Despite the hostility, Stephen forgives his persecutors, echoing Christ's words on the cross. This act highlights the transformative power of faith and forgiveness in the face of adversity.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus describes Himself as the "bread of life," offering spiritual nourishment that transcends physical hunger. This teaching follows the feeding of the 5000, where Jesus demonstrated His divine provision. Here, He invites us to seek a deeper connection with God, emphasizing that true fulfillment comes from trusting in Him.
These readings remind us to stand firm in our faith, even when faced with challenges. Like Stephen, we are called to forgive and trust in God's plan. Jesus' words encourage us to seek spiritual sustenance daily, nurturing our souls through prayer and reflection. May we embrace this call to live with integrity and compassion, trusting in God's providence.