Daily Readings - Wed Apr 30 2025
Acts
17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.21And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.22But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,23Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.24Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.25Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
John
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, obedience, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. The first reading from Acts recounts the Apostles’ miraculous escape from prison, where an angel of the Lord frees them to continue their mission of preaching the Gospel. Despite the authorities’ attempts to silence them, the Apostles remain steadfast in their obedience to God, even in the face of persecution. The Gospel from John, on the other hand, presents us with one of the most profound expressions of God’s love: the gift of His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. This passage reminds us that God’s desire is not to condemn the world but to save it, yet it also warns that those who reject the light of truth will dwell in darkness.
The readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on the tension between human resistance to God’s will and the unstoppable power of divine love. In Acts, the Sadducees and temple authorities represent the forces of opposition to the Gospel, yet they are no match for the divine plan. Similarly, in John’s Gospel, the world is divided between those who embrace the light of Christ and those who prefer the darkness of sin. Both readings call us to consider where we stand in this spiritual divide. Are we among those who cling to the light, even when it challenges us, or do we find comfort in the shadows of our own making?
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded that faith is not a passive belief but an active commitment to living in the light of Christ. Just as the Apostles continued to preach despite imprisonment, we too must remain faithful in the face of trials and setbacks. The moral lesson here is clear: God’s love is always available to us, but we must choose to accept it and live according to His truth. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to stand firm in our faith, even when the world around us seems hostile? Do we trust in God’s plan, even when the path ahead is uncertain? May we, like the Apostles, be courageous in our witness and may we, like the Father, love without condition, that we might walk ever more closely in the light of His Son, Jesus Christ.