Daily Readings - Sun Apr 16 2023
Acts
42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
1 Peter
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
John
19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.20And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the life of faith, the power of community, and the enduring presence of God in our lives. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community living in harmony, sharing resources, and gathering regularly for prayer and the breaking of bread. This was a time of great joy and simplicity, yet also of challenges and trials. The believers were not immune to suffering, but their faith sustained them, and they found strength in their unity and their trust in God. The second reading from 1 Peter reminds us that our faith is a gift from God, rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is through faith that we inherit an eternal and incorruptible inheritance, one that is guarded by God’s power. Even when we face trials, we are called to rejoice because these trials refine our faith, making it more precious than gold. Finally, in the Gospel, we encounter Thomas, who struggled with doubt after the resurrection. Jesus’ encounter with Thomas reminds us that faith is not about seeing but about trusting in what we cannot see. Jesus’ words to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” are a timeless invitation to all of us to deepen our faith, even when the road ahead seems uncertain.
These readings are deeply interconnected. The early Christian community in Acts is the fruit of the mission Jesus entrusted to his disciples, as seen in the Gospel. The believers in Acts lived out their faith in practical ways, sharing their resources and supporting one another, just as Jesus had taught them. The second reading from 1 Peter provides the theological foundation for understanding why the early Christians could live with such hope and joy despite their trials. Their faith was rooted in the resurrection of Jesus, which gave them confidence in God’s ultimate triumph over suffering and death. The story of Thomas, meanwhile, reminds us that faith is not always easy. Doubt can creep in, but Jesus is patient and gracious, offering us the opportunity to grow in faith even when we stumble.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded of the importance of living in community and supporting one another, just as the early Christians did. We are also called to trust in God’s plan, even when we face challenges or uncertainties. Like Thomas, we may struggle with doubt at times, but Jesus invites us to move beyond our fears and to place our trust in him. The moral lesson here is clear: faith is not about having all the answers but about surrendering to God’s love and trusting in his presence, even when we cannot see the way ahead. Let us strive to live with the same hope and joy as the early Christians, knowing that our faith is a gift from God, and that he is always with us, guiding us toward eternal life.