Daily Readings - Mon Apr 29 2024
Acts
5There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.6But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country,7where they continued to preach the good news.8In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.9He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed10and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.11When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!"12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting:15"Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.16In the past, he let all nations go their own way.17Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."18Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
John
21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.25"All this I have spoken while still with you.26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that guide us in our faith journey. The first, from Acts, tells of Paul and Barnabas in Lystra, where a miraculous healing leads to a misunderstanding. The crowd, in awe, mistakes them for gods, prompting Paul and Barnabas to correct them, emphasizing their humanity and pointing to the one true God. This scene highlights the apostles' humility and their commitment to spreading the Gospel, even in the face of idolatrous confusion.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus discusses the essence of love and obedience. He explains that loving Him means keeping His commandments, which in turn invites the Father's love and His own manifestation. Jesus also addresses Judas's query about why He won't reveal Himself to the world, underscoring that true revelation comes through obedience and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This passage emphasizes the intimate relationship between God and those who follow Him, a relationship sustained by love and obedience.
Both readings converge on the theme of divine presence and its correct acknowledgment. While the crowd in Acts misidentifies the divine, Jesus in John reveals that true divine presence is experienced through love and obedience. These narratives remind us to seek God not in fleeting signs but in consistent, faithful living. They encourage us to avoid idolatry, whether literal or metaphorical, and to nurture a deep, personal relationship with God through prayer and obedience.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to remain grounded in faith, recognizing God's presence in all moments, both ordinary and extraordinary. True faith is not about seeking miracles but about living according to God's will. Let us focus on cultivating a relationship with God that is rooted in love and obedience, avoiding distractions and false idols, and embracing the Holy Spirit's guidance in our lives.