Daily Readings - Wed Apr 26 2023
Acts
1And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.2On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.5Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.7With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.8So there was great joy in that city.
John
35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.36But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.40For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear of the early Church facing persecution and the profound message of Jesus as the bread of life. The first reading from Acts describes a time of great turmoil for the Church, as believers were dispersed following Stephen's martyrdom. Yet, amidst this chaos, Philip ventures to Samaria, preaching Christ and performing miracles, which brings healing and unity to the people. This narrative highlights the resilience of faith and the Church's mission to spread God's word even in adversity.
The Gospel from John presents Jesus' declaration as the bread of life, emphasizing that those who come to Him will find eternal sustenance. Jesus assures that all given to Him by the Father will be welcomed and raised on the last day. This discourse underscores the central Christian belief in Jesus as the source of eternal life and the importance of trusting in God's plan.
These readings remind us that our faith, like that of the early Christians, must persevere through life's challenges. Just as Philip trusted God's guidance to Samaria, we too can face our trials with courage, knowing that our ultimate hope lies in Jesus. Let us draw strength from His promise, trusting that He will see us through every difficulty, and may our lives reflect the same unwavering commitment to sharing God's love.