Daily Readings - Fri Apr 29 2022
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
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, discernment, and God's providence. The first reading from Acts 5:34-42 presents Gamaliel, a wise Pharisee, advising the council to exercise caution regarding the apostles. He suggests that if their work is of God, it will endure, whereas human efforts will fade. This counsel emphasizes the importance of discernment and trust in divine plans.
The Gospel from John 6:1-15 recounts the miracle of the feeding of the 5000, where Jesus transforms five loaves and two fish into an abundant meal. This miracle not only demonstrates Jesus' divine power but also the people's growing belief in him as the Prophet. However, Jesus withdraws to avoid being made king, showing his commitment to his divine mission over earthly power.
These readings connect through their themes of faith and divine work. Gamaliel's advice in Acts encourages us to discern God's will, while John's miracle illustrates the fulfillment of that will through Jesus. Together, they remind us to trust in God's providence and remain open to His plans, even in uncertain times.
In our daily lives, these readings inspire us to approach challenges with faith and discernment. Like the apostles, we may face adversity, but our trust in God's plan should sustain us. Similarly, just as Jesus provided for the multitude, we can have faith that God will provide for our needs. The moral lesson here is the importance of trusting in God's timing and plans, allowing His work to unfold in our lives.