Daily Readings - Thu Apr 12 2018

First Reading - Acts 5.27-33

²⁷And when they had brought them, they stood them before the council. And the high priest questioned them²⁸and said: "We strongly order you not to teach in this name. For behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you wish to bring the blood of this man upon us.²⁹But Peter and the Apostles responded by saying: "It is necessary to obey God, more so than men³⁰The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a tree³¹It is he whom God has exalted at his right hand as Ruler and Savior, so as to offer repentance and the remission of sins to Israel³²And we are witnesses of these things, with the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who are obedient to him.³³When they had heard these things, they were deeply wounded, and they were planning to put them to death

Gospel - John 3.31-36

John

Chapter 3

³¹He who comes from above, is above everything. He who is from below, is of the earth, and he speaks about the earth. He who comes from heaven is above everything³²And what he has seen and heard, about this he testifies. And no one accepts his testimony³³Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified that God is truthful³⁴For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God. For God does not give the Spirit by measure³⁵The Father loves the Son, and he has given everything into his hand³⁶Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. But whoever is unbelieving toward the Son shall not see life; instead the wrath of God remains upon him.

Sermon

The readings today present a powerful contrast between human authority and divine truth. In the first reading from Acts, Peter and the Apostles stand before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council, refusing to stop preaching about Jesus. Despite the council's orders to silence them, they boldly declare that they must obey God rather than men. This moment captures the early Church's courage in the face of persecution, as they bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus and the salvation he offers. The tension here is clear: the religious leaders see the Apostles as a threat to their authority, but Peter and the others remain steadfast, trusting in God's plan. In the Gospel, John 3:31-36, Jesus speaks of his divine origin and mission. He comes from above, bearing testimony to what he has seen in heaven, and his words are the words of God. The passage emphasizes the gravity of belief: those who accept Jesus' testimony affirm that God is truthful, and they receive eternal life. Conversely, those who reject him remain under God's wrath. This passage reminds us that faith in Jesus is not merely an intellectual assent but a spiritual surrender to the One who speaks the words of eternal life. Both readings invite us to reflect on the nature of authority and truth. The Apostles in Acts show us that true authority comes from God, and we must be willing to stand by that truth, even when it costs us. Jesus in John reminds us that his words are not merely human opinions but divine revelations. In our daily lives, we are often faced with choices between conforming to the world's expectations and following God's will. These readings challenge us to trust in God's plan, to bear witness to his truth, and to remember that our ultimate allegiance is to him. May we, like Peter and the Apostles, have the courage to obey God rather than men, and may we, like Jesus, speak and live according to the truth that brings eternal life.