Daily Readings - Thu Apr 11 2024
Acts
27Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.28"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."29Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!30The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."33When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.
John
31"The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.33The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of testimony and obedience to God. In the first reading from Acts, Peter and the apostles stand before the council, refusing to stop teaching about Jesus despite the high priest's orders. Peter's bold response underscores their commitment to obeying God over men, highlighting Jesus' resurrection and their role as witnesses. This passage is set in the early church, where the apostles faced persecution for spreading Jesus' teachings.
The Gospel from John emphasizes Jesus' divine origin, as He testifies to heavenly truths. Jesus' words in John 3:31-36 contrast the earthly and divine realms, stressing that belief in Him leads to eternal life. This passage is part of a larger discourse where Jesus explains His mission, focusing on His role as a divine witness.
Both readings connect through the theme of testimony and obedience. The apostles in Acts follow Jesus' example from John, who testified to divine truths. In our daily lives, this calls us to stand firm in our faith, even when faced with challenges. We are to courageously share the Gospel, trusting in God's plan. The moral lesson is clear: obedience to God is paramount, and our faith should lead us to testify about Jesus, even in difficult situations.