Daily Readings - Thu May 04 2017
Acts
26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.29The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."30Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.31"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."34The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?"35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"37Verse omitted from the New International Version38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.40Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
John
44"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.45It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.46No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.47I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.48I am the bread of life.49Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died.50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
Sermon
In today's readings, we witness the profound interplay of divine guidance and human response. The first reading from Acts 8:26-40 illustrates the Spirit's active role in spreading the Gospel. Philip, led by the Spirit, encounters an Ethiopian eunuch who is seeking understanding of Scripture. Through Philip's explanation, the eunuch comes to faith in Jesus and is baptized, experiencing the joy of new life in Christ. This narrative highlights the Spirit's initiative and the importance of being open to divine promptings.
The Gospel from John 6:44-51 complements this by emphasizing God's role in drawing individuals to Himself. Jesus, the bread of life, offers eternal life to those who believe. This teaching underscores that faith is a gift from God, initiated by Him. Just as the eunuch's encounter was divinely orchestrated, our faith journeys are also part of God's larger plan.
In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God's providence and be attentive to His Spirit. Like Philip, we should be ready to share the Gospel when opportunities arise. Reflecting on Jesus as the bread of life, we are reminded to nurture our faith and rely on His grace. The eunuch's joy after baptism encourages us to embrace the transformative power of faith, trusting in God's plan and being instruments of His will.