Daily Readings - Thu May 03 2018
1 Corinthians
1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
John
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the cornerstone of our faith and the profound relationship we share with God through Christ. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 15 emphasizes the resurrection of Christ as the foundation of our belief. Paul underscores that Christ's death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day are not just historical events but the very essence of the Gospel. This resurrection is witnessed by many, including Paul himself, reinforcing its reality and significance. The second reading from John 14 highlights Jesus' declaration that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that seeing Him is seeing the Father. Jesus also speaks of believers doing greater works than He did, through the power of the Father.
The context of these readings is deeply rooted in the early Christian community's need for assurance and understanding. Paul's letter to the Corinthians addresses a community grappling with doubts about the resurrection, while John's Gospel provides a intimate conversation where Jesus reassures His disciples of His unity with the Father. Together, these readings connect the resurrection's power with the empowerment we receive through our unity with Christ, enabling us to live out our faith actively.
In our daily lives, these teachings call us to trust in the transformative power of the resurrection and to embrace our role as instruments of God's work. Just as Christ was seen by many after His resurrection, we are called to make Him visible through our actions. By living in unity with God, we can perform greater works, not through our own strength, but through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. This empowerment is not just for grand deeds but for the everyday moments where we choose love, kindness, and service.
As we reflect on these readings, let us embrace the hope and empowerment they offer. May we live each day with the confidence that we are in God and God is in us, trusting in His power to guide and strengthen us. Let us strive to be the hands and feet of Christ, bringing His love and light into the world. In doing so, we not only glorify God but also become living testimonies of the resurrection's power and the enduring truth of Jesus' words.