Daily Readings - Sun Apr 21 2024

⁷And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,⁹If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;¹⁰Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.¹¹This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.¹²Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

1 John

Chapter 3

¹Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.²Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

John

Chapter 10

¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.¹²But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.¹³The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.¹⁴I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.¹⁵As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.¹⁶And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.¹⁷Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.¹⁸No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful reflections on identity, faith, and the boundless love of God. The first reading from Acts recounts Peter and John's courageous testimony before the Sanhedrin after healing a lame man. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly proclaims that the healing was done in the name of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of salvation. This moment highlights the transformative power of faith and the authority of Jesus' name. The second reading from 1 John invites us to contemplate the profound love of God that makes us His children. John reminds us that our true identity as sons and daughters of God is not yet fully revealed, but we can trust in the promise that when Christ appears, we will be like Him. This truth calls us to live with hope and confidence, knowing we belong to God. In the Gospel, Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. This image underscores Jesus' deep care and commitment to His followers. He knows us, and we know Him, just as He knows the Father. This intimate relationship is a source of comfort and strength, reminding us that we are not alone in our journey of faith. These readings remind us that our identity as children of God and our relationship with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, are at the heart of our faith. May we trust in His care, live with the confidence of our identity, and allow His love to guide us in our daily lives.