Daily Readings - Sat Apr 24 2021
Acts
31Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.32And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.33And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.34And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.35And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.36Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.37And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.38And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.39Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.40But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.41And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.42And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
John
53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.60Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?61When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?62What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.64But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Sermon
In today's readings, we witness the power of faith and the challenges it presents. From Acts, we see the early Christian church thriving under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, with Peter performing miracles that inspire belief. In John's Gospel, Jesus presents a difficult teaching about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, which leads some disciples to doubt and others to reaffirm their faith.
Both readings highlight the transformative power of faith. In Acts, Peter's miracles demonstrate God's active presence, encouraging others to trust in His power. In John, despite the difficulty of Jesus' words, Peter's unwavering commitment shows that true faith requires trust beyond understanding. These stories remind us that faith is not about ease but about trusting in God's plan, even when it's challenging.
In our daily lives, we face similar challenges—moments where teachings or circumstances test our faith. Like the disciples, we may find certain aspects of our belief difficult, but it is precisely in these moments that we are called to deepen our trust. The readings encourage us to embrace faith actively, knowing that it can lead to transformation and inspire others, just as Peter's miracles did. Let us strive to follow Peter's example, affirming our belief and trusting in God's eternal life.