Daily Readings - Mon Apr 27 2020
Acts
8And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.9Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.11Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,13And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:14For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.15And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
John
22The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;23Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)24When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons on faith and courage. The first reading from Acts describes Stephen, a man filled with grace and the Holy Spirit, who faces fierce opposition for his faith. Despite the accusations and hostility, Stephen stands firm, embodying the courage that comes from trusting in God. His story reminds us that living our faith openly can lead to challenges, but with the Holy Spirit's guidance, we can face them with grace.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches the crowd about the importance of seeking eternal life over temporary satisfactions. After the miracle of feeding the 5000, the crowd follows Him, seeking more. Jesus uses this moment to emphasize that true fulfillment comes from believing in Him. He calls us to focus on spiritual nourishment, urging us to labor for that which endures beyond this life. This teaching invites us to reflect on our priorities and where we seek our true satisfaction.
Both readings connect through the theme of faith. Stephen's unwavering faith in the face of persecution and Jesus' call to believe in Him for eternal life remind us that faith is our foundation. It is through faith that we find the strength to overcome challenges and the wisdom to discern God's will. Let us strive to deepen our faith, seeking spiritual nourishment and standing firm in our commitment to Christ, even when faced with adversity.