Daily Readings - Fri May 13 2022
Acts
26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.28And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.29And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.30But God raised him from the dead:31And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.32And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,33God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
John
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear Paul addressing the people of Antioch, explaining how the events of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection fulfill the promises of the prophets. He emphasizes that the rulers in Jerusalem did not recognize Jesus, but God, in His wisdom, raised Him from the dead, a testament to the fulfillment of ancient promises. In the Gospel, Jesus comforts His disciples, reassuring them of a place in His Father's house. He declares Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the sole path to the Father.
Both readings are set in contexts of transition and preparation. Paul, on his missionary journey, connects Jesus to the Jewish scriptures, showing the continuity of God's plan. Jesus, in His Farewell Discourse, prepares His disciples for His departure, offering comfort and assurance. The link between the readings lies in their emphasis on belief and trust in God's plan. Paul highlights belief in the fulfillment of prophecy, while Jesus underscores belief in Him as the path to eternal life.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's plan, especially during uncertain times. They remind us that following Jesus, as the Way, leads us to eternal life. The moral lesson here is one of faith and trust in God's promises, encouraging us to live according to Jesus' teachings and find comfort in His assurance. Let us embrace this faith, trusting in God's plan and following Jesus as our guide.