Daily Readings - Sun Apr 18 2021
Acts
13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.17"Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.18But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer.19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
1 John
1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.2He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.3We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.4The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.5But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:
Luke
35Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.36While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."37They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.38He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?39Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"42They gave him a piece of broiled fish,43and he took it and ate it in their presence.44He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.46He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.48You are witnesses of these things.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound truths about God’s plan of salvation, the call to repentance, and the enduring power of faith. The first reading from Acts finds Peter addressing the people of Jerusalem, urging them to recognize their role in the death of Jesus. Yet, he quickly shifts from accusation to hope, explaining that their actions, though misguided, fulfilled God’s plan. Peter calls them to repentance, promising that their sins can be wiped away through conversion. This passage reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God’s mercy is always available.
The second reading from 1 John deepens this message, emphasizing Jesus’ role as our Advocate before the Father. John reminds us that while we may sin, Jesus’ sacrifice covers not only our sins but those of the entire world. However, this gift of forgiveness is not without expectation. John stresses that true knowledge of God is demonstrated by obedience to His commandments. This reading challenges us to examine our lives: do our actions reflect our faith, or are we merely paying lip service to God’s love?
In the Gospel, Luke recounts the moment when Jesus appears to His disciples after the resurrection. Despite their fear and disbelief, Jesus offers them peace and proof of His bodily presence. He then opens their minds to understand the Scriptures, showing how His suffering, death, and resurrection were all part of God’s plan. This passage invites us to reflect on how we encounter Jesus in our own lives—through prayer, Scripture, and the breaking of bread—and how these encounters should transform us.
These readings, when taken together, offer a powerful message about the interconnectedness of sin, forgiveness, and faith. They remind us that while we are all capable of failing God, His mercy is boundless. Yet, this mercy calls us to action: to repent, to obey, and to live as witnesses of the risen Christ. As we go about our daily lives, may we embrace this call, allowing the love and forgiveness of God to shape our choices and transform our hearts. Let us strive to live in such a way that our lives become a testament to the power of God’s grace, just as the early disciples bore witness to the resurrection.