Daily Readings - Fri Apr 13 2018

First Reading - Acts 5.34-42

³⁴But someone in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, rose up and ordered the men to be put outside briefly³⁵And he said to them: "Men of Israel, you should be careful in your intentions about these men³⁶For before these days, Theudas stepped forward, asserting himself to be someone, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined with him. But he was killed, and all who believed in him were scattered, and they were reduced to nothing³⁷After this one, Judas the Galilean stepped forward, in the days of the enrollment, and he turned the people toward himself. But he also perished, and all of them, as many as had joined with him, were dispersed³⁸And now therefore, I say to you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or work is of men, it will be broken³⁹Yet truly, if it is of God, you will not be able to break it, and perhaps you might be found to have fought against God." And they agreed with him⁴⁰And calling in the Apostles, having beaten them, they warned them not to speak at all in the name of Jesus. And they dismissed them⁴¹And indeed, they went forth from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer insult on behalf of the name of Jesus⁴²And every day, in the temple and among the houses, they did not cease to teach and to evangelize Christ Jesus

Gospel - John 6.1-15

John

Chapter 6

¹After these things, Jesus traveled across the sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias²And a great multitude was following him, for they saw the signs that he was accomplishing toward those who were infirm³Therefore, Jesus went onto a mountain, and he sat down there with his disciples⁴Now the Passover, the feast day of the Jews, was near⁵And so, when Jesus had lifted up his eyes and had seen that a very great multitude came to him, he said to Philip, "From where should we buy bread, so that these may eat?⁶But he said this to test him. For he himself knew what he would do⁷Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii of bread would not be sufficient for each of them to receive even a little.⁸One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him⁹"There is a certain boy here, who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are these among so many?¹⁰Then Jesus said, "Have the men sit down to eat." Now, there was much grass in that place. And so the men, in number about five thousand, sat down to eat¹¹Therefore, Jesus took the bread, and when he had given thanks, he distributed it to those who were sitting down to eat; similarly also, from the fish, as much as they wanted¹²Then, when they were filled, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments that are left over, lest they be lost.¹³And so they gathered, and they filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which were left over from those who had eaten¹⁴Therefore, those men, when they had seen that Jesus had accomplished a sign, they said, "Truly, this one is the Prophet who is to come into the world.¹⁵And so, when he realized that they were going to come and take him away and make him king, Jesus fled back to the mountain, by himself alone

Sermon

**Sermon Based on Acts 5:34-42 and John 6:1-15** **Summary of Readings:** In Acts 5:34-42, Gamaliel advises the council to cautiousness, using historical examples to suggest that if the Apostles' work is divine, it cannot be stopped. This leads to the Apostles being beaten but continuing their mission with joy. In John 6:1-15, Jesus feeds 5000 with a boy's five loaves and two fish, demonstrating God's provision and Jesus' humility, prompting the crowd to want to make him king, leading Jesus to withdraw. **Context and Connection:** Acts is set in the early church, where the Apostles face persecution. Gamaliel's prudent advice is a key moment, showing some leaders were cautious rather than hostile. John's feeding miracle is a significant sign in his Gospel, highlighting Jesus' divine care for physical needs. Both readings emphasize faith and trust in God, illustrating that aligning with God's will leads to resolution of impossible situations. **Application to Daily Life:** These readings encourage trusting God's plan amidst uncertainty. Like Gamaliel, we should approach situations with wisdom, and like the feeding miracle, trust God's provision. Offering our little, like the boy's loaves, allows God to multiply our efforts, whether in personal challenges or serving others. **Moral Lesson:** The moral is about discernment and trust. We should wisely discern situations and trust God's greater plans. Like the Apostles, we may face challenges but should continue our mission with faith. Offering our resources, no matter how small, allows God to work through us, teaching us humility and reliance on His providence.