Daily Readings - Wed Apr 22 2020
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 powerful lessons on faith, obedience, and the transformative power of God’s love. The first reading from Acts recounts the Apostles’ unwavering commitment to preaching the Gospel despite imprisonment and persecution. Freed miraculously by an angel, they continue to teach in the temple, embodying the resilience of those who trust in divine providence. This narrative reminds us that our faith is not confined by earthly constraints but is empowered by God’s grace to overcome any obstacle.
The Gospel from John presents one of the most profound expressions of God’s love: the gift of His only Son, Jesus Christ. This passage invites us to reflect on the choice between belief and unbelief, light and darkness. Those who embrace the light of Christ are called to live truthfully, allowing their actions to be guided by love and integrity. Conversely, those who prefer darkness flee from the light, fearing the exposure of their deeds. This contrast challenges us to examine our own lives: do we walk in the light of Christ, or do we shy away from it?
These readings call us to live as children of light, trusting in God’s plan and remaining faithful even in adversity. Just as the Apostles obeyed God’s will despite persecution, we too are called to stand firm in our commitment to the Gospel. Let us allow the light of Christ to illuminate our path, guiding us to live in truth and love. May we, like the Apostles, be bold in sharing the Good News, trusting that God’s grace will sustain us in all we do.