Daily Readings - Thu May 03 2018
1 Corinthians
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
John
6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the cornerstone of our faith and the profound relationship we share with God through Christ. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 15 emphasizes the resurrection of Christ as the foundation of our belief. Paul underscores that Christ's death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day are not just historical events but the very essence of the Gospel. This resurrection is witnessed by many, including Paul himself, reinforcing its reality and significance. The second reading from John 14 highlights Jesus' declaration that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that seeing Him is seeing the Father. Jesus also speaks of believers doing greater works than He did, through the power of the Father.
The context of these readings is deeply rooted in the early Christian community's need for assurance and understanding. Paul's letter to the Corinthians addresses a community grappling with doubts about the resurrection, while John's Gospel provides a intimate conversation where Jesus reassures His disciples of His unity with the Father. Together, these readings connect the resurrection's power with the empowerment we receive through our unity with Christ, enabling us to live out our faith actively.
In our daily lives, these teachings call us to trust in the transformative power of the resurrection and to embrace our role as instruments of God's work. Just as Christ was seen by many after His resurrection, we are called to make Him visible through our actions. By living in unity with God, we can perform greater works, not through our own strength, but through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. This empowerment is not just for grand deeds but for the everyday moments where we choose love, kindness, and service.
As we reflect on these readings, let us embrace the hope and empowerment they offer. May we live each day with the confidence that we are in God and God is in us, trusting in His power to guide and strengthen us. Let us strive to be the hands and feet of Christ, bringing His love and light into the world. In doing so, we not only glorify God but also become living testimonies of the resurrection's power and the enduring truth of Jesus' words.