Daily Readings - Sun Apr 14 2024
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 journey through themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the fulfillment of God's plan. The first reading from Acts finds Peter addressing a crowd, acknowledging their role in Jesus' death but also highlighting the opportunity for forgiveness through repentance. The second reading from 1 John emphasizes Jesus as our advocate, whose sacrifice covers not just our sins but those of the entire world. It underscores the importance of living according to God's commandments as a testament to our faith. The Gospel from Luke narrates Jesus' appearance to his disciples post-resurrection, where he proves his physical presence and commissions them to spread the message of repentance and forgiveness.
These readings interweave to reveal the tapestry of God's plan. Peter's call to repentance, John's emphasis on living out faith through love and commandments, and Luke's account of Jesus' commission all point to the central message of redemption and the responsibility that comes with it. Together, they illustrate that our faith is not just about belief but about action—living in a way that reflects God's love and forgiveness.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are reminded to seek forgiveness and to extend it to others. Just as the disciples were commissioned, we too are called to share the message of God's love. The moral lesson here is clear: recognizing our sins, seeking forgiveness, and living a life that embodies God's commandments. As we go about our days, may we carry this message of redemption and love, allowing it to transform not just our own lives but the lives of those around us.