Daily Readings - Thu Apr 30 2020
Acts
26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.29The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."30Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.31"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."34The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?"35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"37Verse omitted from the New International Version38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.40Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
John
44"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.45It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.46No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.47I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.48I am the bread of life.49Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died.50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the profound mystery of God’s initiative in our lives and the gift of faith that draws us to Him. In the first reading from Acts, we witness the encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch, a high-ranking official, is reading from the prophet Isaiah but struggles to understand the passage. Philip, guided by the Holy Spirit, approaches him and explains the Scripture, revealing how it points to Jesus Christ. This encounter leads to the eunuch’s baptism, a moment of profound conversion and joy. The story highlights the importance of guidance, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the universal call to faith, as even those on the margins—like the eunuch—are brought into God’s family.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of Himself as the bread of life, emphasizing that no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father. This teaching underscores the truth that faith is a gift from God, not something we can achieve on our own. Just as the eunuch needed Philip to explain the Scriptures, we too need the grace of God to open our hearts and minds to His truth. Jesus’ words also remind us that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a lived relationship with Him, nourished by His Word and His presence in the Eucharist.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own journey of faith. How often do we recognize the ways God is drawing us closer to Himself? Like the eunuch, we may find ourselves in moments of confusion or doubt, but God provides us with guides—through Scripture, the Church, and one another—to help us understand and deepen our faith. As we go about our daily lives, let us remain open to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, trusting in God’s plan and sharing the gift of faith with others. May we, like Philip, be instruments of God’s grace, and may we, like the eunuch, embrace the joy of conversion with open hearts.