Daily Readings - Thu Apr 19 2018
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.
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 encounter powerful narratives that illuminate God's universal invitation and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from Acts recounts the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, a moment where the Spirit's guidance leads to an unexpected encounter. Philip, directed by the Spirit, approaches the eunuch who is pondering Isaiah's prophecy. Through Philip's explanation, the eunuch comes to faith and is baptized, exemplifying the early church's mission to spread the Gospel to all, regardless of background.
The Gospel from John presents Jesus as the Bread of Life, emphasizing that faith is a gift from God. Jesus teaches that no one comes to Him unless drawn by the Father, highlighting the divine initiative in our salvation. He invites all to partake in His flesh, given for the life of the world, promising eternal life to those who believe.
These readings connect through themes of divine call and inclusion. The Spirit's role in Acts and the Father's drawing in John underscore God's active engagement in bringing people to faith. Both narratives show that God's plan is for all, embracing diversity and breaking down barriers. In our lives, this means being open to the Spirit's promptings and recognizing God's call in unexpected places. We are invited to embrace the faith that leads to eternal life, just as the eunuch did, and to share this gift with others, trusting in God's universal love.
As we reflect, let us remember that faith is a response to God's grace, and our lives should mirror the inclusive love of Christ. May we, like Philip, be ready to share the Gospel, and may we, like the eunuch, joyfully embrace God's invitation, living as witnesses to His transformative power.