Daily Readings - Mon May 02 2022
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 powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, perseverance, and the true nature of our spiritual hunger. The first reading from Acts describes Stephen, a man filled with grace and fortitude, who performs miracles and speaks with wisdom. Despite this, he faces fierce opposition from those who cannot accept his message. They falsely accuse him of blasphemy and bring him before the council, where his serene and angelic demeanor in the face of adversity testifies to his deep faith in God.
In the Gospel, Jesus addresses a crowd that has followed him, not because they have come to believe in him, but because they are seeking more of the physical bread that satisfied their hunger the day before. Jesus challenges them to look beyond temporal satisfactions and to seek instead the food that endures to eternal life. He reminds them that this eternal life is found in believing in him, the one sent by the Father. When the crowd asks what they must do to labor in the works of God, Jesus responds simply: “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent.”
These readings remind us that our faith is often tested by the world’s resistance to the truth. Like Stephen, we may face opposition when we stand firm in our beliefs, but our trust in God’s providence should give us the courage to persevere. Like the crowd in the Gospel, we are often tempted to seek comfort and satisfaction in the things of this world. Yet Jesus calls us to a higher hunger—one that yearns for the eternal life and fulfillment that only he can give. Let us ask ourselves today: Are we seeking God for who he is, or are we looking for temporary comforts? May we, like Stephen, radiate grace and peace in the face of challenges, and may we, like the crowd, turn our hearts toward the eternal bread that satisfies our deepest longings.