Daily Readings - Sun Apr 18 2021
Acts
13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.17And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.18But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
1 John
1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Luke
35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.36And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.37But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.38And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?39Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.40And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.43And he took it, and did eat before them.44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.48And ye are witnesses of these things.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound truths about God’s plan of salvation, the call to repentance, and the enduring power of faith. The first reading from Acts finds Peter addressing the people of Jerusalem, urging them to recognize their role in the death of Jesus. Yet, he quickly shifts from accusation to hope, explaining that their actions, though misguided, fulfilled God’s plan. Peter calls them to repentance, promising that their sins can be wiped away through conversion. This passage reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God’s mercy is always available.
The second reading from 1 John deepens this message, emphasizing Jesus’ role as our Advocate before the Father. John reminds us that while we may sin, Jesus’ sacrifice covers not only our sins but those of the entire world. However, this gift of forgiveness is not without expectation. John stresses that true knowledge of God is demonstrated by obedience to His commandments. This reading challenges us to examine our lives: do our actions reflect our faith, or are we merely paying lip service to God’s love?
In the Gospel, Luke recounts the moment when Jesus appears to His disciples after the resurrection. Despite their fear and disbelief, Jesus offers them peace and proof of His bodily presence. He then opens their minds to understand the Scriptures, showing how His suffering, death, and resurrection were all part of God’s plan. This passage invites us to reflect on how we encounter Jesus in our own lives—through prayer, Scripture, and the breaking of bread—and how these encounters should transform us.
These readings, when taken together, offer a powerful message about the interconnectedness of sin, forgiveness, and faith. They remind us that while we are all capable of failing God, His mercy is boundless. Yet, this mercy calls us to action: to repent, to obey, and to live as witnesses of the risen Christ. As we go about our daily lives, may we embrace this call, allowing the love and forgiveness of God to shape our choices and transform our hearts. Let us strive to live in such a way that our lives become a testament to the power of God’s grace, just as the early disciples bore witness to the resurrection.