Daily Readings - Wed May 01 2019
Acts
17Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.18They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.20"Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life."21At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.22When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin--the full assembly of the elders of Israel--and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported,23"We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside."24On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this.25Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people."26At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.
John
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that illuminate the essence of faith and courage. The first reading from Acts recounts the Apostles' unwavering commitment to their mission despite imprisonment. Freed by an angel, they continue teaching in the temple, undeterred by the authorities' confusion and fear. This episode highlights the early Church's resilience against persecution, driven by their devotion to spreading God's word.
The Gospel from John presents the cornerstone of Christian belief: God's gift of His Son for the salvation of the world. John 3:16 reminds us that belief in Jesus offers eternal life, while rejection leads to condemnation. This passage contrasts light and darkness, emphasizing that those who do good seek the light, while evildoers shun it.
These readings intertwine the themes of perseverance and divine love. The Apostles' courage in Acts is fueled by the message of salvation in John. Their steadfastness in the face of adversity exemplifies living out one's faith fearlessly. In our daily lives, we are called to embody this courage, standing firm in our beliefs even when faced with challenges. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's plan and embrace the light of truth, allowing it to guide our actions and decisions. Let us strive to spread God's word with the same determination as the Apostles, knowing that our faith is a beacon of hope in a world often shrouded in darkness.