Daily Readings - Fri Apr 16 2021
Acts
34Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.36For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.38And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.40And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
John
1After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.2And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.3And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.4And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.5When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?10And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.11And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.12When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.13Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.14Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.15When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Sermon
The first reading from Acts reminds us of the early Christian community’s struggles and the wisdom of Gamaliel, a Pharisee who cautioned the Sanhedrin against persecuting the Apostles. He recalled how previous movements led by Theudas and Judas the Galilean had failed because they were not of God. Gamaliel’s advice was rooted in his understanding that if the Apostles’ mission was truly from God, it could not be stopped, and opposing it might mean fighting against God Himself. This passage highlights the importance of discernment and trust in God’s plan, even in the face of uncertainty or opposition.
The Gospel reading from John recounts the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, a powerful sign of Jesus’ divine authority. Faced with a hungry crowd, Jesus tested Philip’s faith, and through the meager offering of a boy’s five barley loaves and two fish, He provided abundantly for all. This miracle not only satisfied the people’s physical hunger but also revealed Jesus as the Prophet who would fulfill God’s promises. The leftovers gathered into twelve baskets symbolize God’s generosity and the idea that His grace is always more than enough, even in our own lives.
Both readings invite us to reflect on trust and discernment. Like Gamaliel, we are called to approach challenges with wisdom and openness, recognizing that God’s work cannot be hindered. Like the crowd in John’s Gospel, we often face situations where our resources seem insufficient, but Jesus shows us that even the smallest offerings can become something extraordinary when placed in His hands. Let us learn to trust in God’s providence, to discern His will in our lives, and to share generously what we have, knowing that He multiplies our efforts beyond measure.