Daily Readings - Wed Apr 14 2021
Acts
17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.21And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.22But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,23Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.24Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.25Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
John
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on obedience, freedom, and the call to live as children of light. The first reading from Acts recounts the Apostles’ courage in the face of persecution. Despite being imprisoned by the Sadducees, they are miraculously freed by an angel and return to the temple to continue teaching. Their unwavering commitment to spreading the Good News, even in the face of danger, reminds us that true freedom comes from obeying God’s will, not from escaping human constraints. The Gospel from John offers a profound meditation on light and darkness. Jesus, the Light of the world, reveals God’s love and offers salvation to all. Yet, the passage also warns that those who prefer darkness to light do so because their deeds are evil. The choice between light and darkness is not just a moral one but a spiritual one, reflecting our willingness to embrace truth and live in God’s grace.
The readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on the tension between human opposition and divine providence. In Acts, the religious leaders are baffled by the Apostles’ escape, symbolizing the futility of human efforts to suppress God’s plan. In John’s Gospel, this tension is spiritual: the world resists the Light because it exposes sin, but those who embrace the Light find eternal life. Together, these passages remind us that living as disciples of Christ requires courage, fidelity, and a willingness to stand out in a world often shrouded in darkness.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Where am I being called to stand firm in my faith despite challenges? How am I choosing light over darkness in my choices and actions? The moral lesson is clear: God’s love and truth set us free, but this freedom demands that we live as witnesses to the Light. May we, like the Apostles, trust in God’s providence and, like those who act in truth, walk confidently toward the Light, allowing our lives to reflect the grace and love of Christ.