Daily Readings - Fri May 05 2023
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
Dear friends,
Today’s readings guide us through a journey of faith and trust in God’s plan. In the first reading from Acts, Paul addresses the people of Antioch, recounting how the leaders in Jerusalem failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, leading to His crucifixion. Yet, Paul emphasizes that God’s power raised Jesus from the dead, fulfilling the promises made to their ancestors. This highlights the triumph of God’s plan over human misunderstanding.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers comfort to His disciples, preparing them for His departure. He reassures them that He goes to prepare a place for them and promises to return. When Thomas expresses confusion about the way, Jesus declares, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This profound statement underscores Jesus as the ultimate guide and source of eternal life.
Both readings remind us to trust in God’s plan, even when faced with uncertainty. Like the disciples, we may feel lost or uncertain about the future, but Jesus assures us that He is our way. In our daily lives, let us embrace faith and trust in God, recognizing Jesus as our guide through life’s challenges. May we find comfort in His promise and strive to follow Him, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
In closing, let us reflect on the importance of faith and trust in our journey with God. May we find strength in Jesus’ words and live each day guided by His truth. Amen.