Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 30, 2018
First Reading: Acts 14.5-18
5And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,6They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:7And there they preached the gospel.8And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:9The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,10Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.11And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.12And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.13Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.14Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,15And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:16Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.17Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.18And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
Psalm 115
1Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.2Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?3But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.5They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:6They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:7They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.8They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.9O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.10O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.11Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.12The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.13He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.14The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.15Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.16The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.17The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.18But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.
Sermon
In today's reading from Acts 14:5-18, we witness a pivotal moment in the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. They find themselves in Lystra, where they heal a lame man, leading the crowd to mistakenly believe they are gods. Paul and Barnabas quickly correct this misconception, emphasizing their humanity and pointing the people to the one true God.
This event occurs during Paul's first missionary journey, a time when he and Barnabas were spreading the Gospel across Asia Minor. Lystra, a city steeped in polytheistic beliefs, presented a unique challenge. The crowd's swift shift from attempting to stone them to deifying them illustrates the volatile nature of human perception. Paul and Barnabas's immediate correction highlights their commitment to humility and their devotion to God.
In our daily lives, we may face situations where our actions are misunderstood or where credit is misplaced. Like Paul and Barnabas, we must remain humble, ensuring that glory is given to God rather than ourselves. This passage reminds us to boldly share our faith, correcting misconceptions and directing others to the divine. The moral lesson here is clear: in all we do, we must trust in God's providence and remain steadfast in our commitment to His truth, avoiding the temptation of personal glory and instead reflecting His light to the world.