Daily Readings - Fri May 12 2017

First Reading - Acts 13.26-33

²⁶Noble brothers, sons of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, it is to you the Word of this salvation has been sent²⁷For those who were living in Jerusalem, and its rulers, heeding neither him, nor the voices of the Prophets that are read on every Sabbath, fulfilled these by judging him²⁸And although they found no case for death against him, they petitioned Pilate, so that they might put him to death²⁹And when they had fulfilled everything that had been written about him, taking him down from the tree, they placed him in a tomb³⁰Yet truly, God raised him up from the dead on the third day³¹And he was seen for many days by those who went up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who even now are his witnesses to the people³²And we are announcing to you that the Promise, which was made to our fathers³³has been fulfilled by God for our children by raising up Jesus, just as it has been written in the second Psalm also: ‘You are my Son. This day I have begotten you.

Gospel - John 14.1-6

John

Chapter 14

¹"Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe in me also²In my Father’s house, there are many dwelling places. If there were not, I would have told you. For I go to prepare a place for you³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will return again, and then I will take you to myself, so that where I am, you also may be⁴And you know where I am going. And you know the way.⁵Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?⁶Jesus said to him: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound truths of our faith, centered on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the first reading from Acts, Paul addresses the people, recounting how Jesus, though unjustly condemned and crucified, was raised by God on the third day. This act of resurrection is not just a historical event but the fulfillment of God’s promises to humanity, offering salvation to all who believe. In the Gospel, Jesus comforts his disciples with words of reassurance, promising to prepare a place for them and affirming that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—the sole path to the Father. Both readings emphasize the importance of trust and belief in God’s plan. Paul’s speech in Acts underscores the necessity of faith in the risen Christ, while Jesus in John’s Gospel calls us to trust in his divine mission and identity. These passages remind us that our faith is rooted in the historical events of Jesus’ life, but it is also a living, dynamic relationship that guides us through life’s uncertainties. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to place our trust in God, even when the path ahead seems unclear. Just as the disciples needed to trust Jesus’ promise of eternal life, we too can find comfort in his assurance that he is always with us, guiding us home to the Father. Let us strive to live as witnesses of this Good News, sharing the hope and love that Jesus has entrusted to us. May we walk in the light of his truth, confident that he is indeed the Way, the Truth, and the Life.