Daily Readings - Mon Apr 27 2020
Acts
8Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.9Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)--Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen,10but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.11Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."12So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.13They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us."15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
John
22The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.23Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.24Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.25When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"26Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."28Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"29Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons on faith and courage. The first reading from Acts describes Stephen, a man filled with grace and the Holy Spirit, who faces fierce opposition for his faith. Despite the accusations and hostility, Stephen stands firm, embodying the courage that comes from trusting in God. His story reminds us that living our faith openly can lead to challenges, but with the Holy Spirit's guidance, we can face them with grace.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches the crowd about the importance of seeking eternal life over temporary satisfactions. After the miracle of feeding the 5000, the crowd follows Him, seeking more. Jesus uses this moment to emphasize that true fulfillment comes from believing in Him. He calls us to focus on spiritual nourishment, urging us to labor for that which endures beyond this life. This teaching invites us to reflect on our priorities and where we seek our true satisfaction.
Both readings connect through the theme of faith. Stephen's unwavering faith in the face of persecution and Jesus' call to believe in Him for eternal life remind us that faith is our foundation. It is through faith that we find the strength to overcome challenges and the wisdom to discern God's will. Let us strive to deepen our faith, seeking spiritual nourishment and standing firm in our commitment to Christ, even when faced with adversity.