Daily Readings - Mon May 02 2022
Acts
8And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.9Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.11Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,13And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:14For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.15And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
John
22The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;23Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)24When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, perseverance, and the true nature of our spiritual hunger. The first reading from Acts describes Stephen, a man filled with grace and fortitude, who performs miracles and speaks with wisdom. Despite this, he faces fierce opposition from those who cannot accept his message. They falsely accuse him of blasphemy and bring him before the council, where his serene and angelic demeanor in the face of adversity testifies to his deep faith in God.
In the Gospel, Jesus addresses a crowd that has followed him, not because they have come to believe in him, but because they are seeking more of the physical bread that satisfied their hunger the day before. Jesus challenges them to look beyond temporal satisfactions and to seek instead the food that endures to eternal life. He reminds them that this eternal life is found in believing in him, the one sent by the Father. When the crowd asks what they must do to labor in the works of God, Jesus responds simply: “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent.”
These readings remind us that our faith is often tested by the world’s resistance to the truth. Like Stephen, we may face opposition when we stand firm in our beliefs, but our trust in God’s providence should give us the courage to persevere. Like the crowd in the Gospel, we are often tempted to seek comfort and satisfaction in the things of this world. Yet Jesus calls us to a higher hunger—one that yearns for the eternal life and fulfillment that only he can give. Let us ask ourselves today: Are we seeking God for who he is, or are we looking for temporary comforts? May we, like Stephen, radiate grace and peace in the face of challenges, and may we, like the crowd, turn our hearts toward the eternal bread that satisfies our deepest longings.