Daily Readings - Sat Apr 27 2024
Acts
44And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.47For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.48And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.49And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.50But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.51But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.52And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
John
7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the universal nature of God’s love and the call to share that love with the world. In the first reading from Acts, we see Paul and Barnabas facing rejection from the Jews, who envy the crowds gathering to hear the Word of God. Despite this, Paul and Barnabas remain steadfast in their mission, turning to the Gentiles and proclaiming that salvation is meant for all people. This moment marks a pivotal shift in the early Church, as the Gospel begins to spread beyond the Jewish community. The Gentiles, in turn, receive the message with joy, showing that God’s plan is not limited to one group but is intended for the ends of the earth.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Philip about the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son. Philip asks Jesus to reveal the Father, but Jesus responds by emphasizing that seeing him is seeing the Father. This exchange underscores the unity of God’s nature and the way Jesus embodies the Father’s love. Jesus then extends this unity to his disciples, promising that those who believe in him will do even greater works. This is a call to trust in God’s presence within us and to act with faith, knowing that we are part of a larger plan to bring God’s love to the world.
These readings remind us that God’s love is not confined to specific groups or boundaries. Like Paul and Barnabas, we are called to share this love with courage and perseverance, even in the face of rejection. And like Philip, we are invited to deepen our understanding of God’s nature, recognizing that Jesus reveals the Father to us. In our daily lives, this means embracing diversity, being open to those who may seem different from us, and trusting that God is at work in all things. Let us strive to be instruments of God’s universal love, bringing light and hope to a world in need.