Daily Readings - Sat Apr 26 2025
Acts
13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.16"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."21After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.
Mark
9When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.10She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping.11When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.12Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.13These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.14Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the power of faith and the call to share the Good News, even in the face of challenges. In the first reading from Acts, Peter and John stand before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish leaders, after healing a man in the name of Jesus. Despite the threats and attempts to silence them, they boldly declare that they cannot stop speaking about what they have seen and heard. Their courage comes from their deep conviction that they are doing God’s will, and they trust that God’s authority surpasses any human authority.
In the Gospel, Mark describes the resurrected Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene and the disciples. While the disciples struggle with doubt and disbelief, Jesus commissions them to “go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” This mission is not limited to the disciples; it extends to all of us. Just as Peter and John faced opposition but remained steadfast, we too are called to share the Gospel with courage, even when it is uncomfortable or met with resistance.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own faith and how we live it out. Are we willing to stand firm in our beliefs, even when faced with challenges or skepticism? Do we trust God enough to step out of our comfort zones and share the Good News with others? The moral lesson here is clear: faith is not just about personal belief; it is about living it out boldly and trusting that God will give us the strength to do so. Let us ask for the courage to be witnesses of Christ’s love and resurrection, just as Peter, John, and the disciples were.