Daily Readings - Tue May 07 2019
Acts
51"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!52Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him--53you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."54When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
John
30So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?31Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"32Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."34"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound lessons of faith and divine providence. The first reading from Acts recounts the martyrdom of Stephen, one of the first deacons of the Church. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, courageously confronts the people for their resistance to God's truth, echoing the prophets of old. Despite the violent response, Stephen's final act is one of forgiveness, praying that God not hold their sin against them. This moment of grace not only highlights Stephen's deep faith but also sets the stage for the spread of Christianity, as persecution scatters the believers, leading to the Gospel reaching new regions.
The Gospel from John presents Jesus as the "Bread of Life," offering a spiritual nourishment that transcends the manna of the wilderness. Jesus emphasizes that He is the true sustenance from heaven, satisfying the deepest hungers of the soul. This teaching invites us to reflect on our own trust in God's providence, just as the early Christians had to trust in God's plan amidst persecution.
These readings call us to live with unwavering faith and forgiveness. Like Stephen, we are to stand firm in our beliefs, even in the face of adversity, and to forgive those who wrong us. Jesus reminds us that true fulfillment comes from Him, urging us to trust in His divine plan. Let us strive to embody this faith in our daily lives, seeking to be vessels of God's grace and forgiveness in a world that often resists His truth.