Daily Readings for 4/30/10

Reflection on Today’s Daily Readings by Fr. Bertrand Buby, SM

Today’s Readings


Scripture: April 30. Lectionary # 283. Acts 13:26-33. Psalm
2:6-7,8-9,10-11ab. John 14:1-6.

Paul continues preaching and witnessing to Jesus' death under Pontius
Pilate and Jesus' resurrection. He also shows how Jesus is fulfilling what
were the Scriptures of the followers of Jesus, namely, the whole of the Old
Testament or the Tanakh ( the Jewish Scriptures).  He uses the messianic
message of Psalm 2 to conclude his preaching and this then is taken up in
our liturgy as the Psalm and Response thus tying the first reading to the
meditative purpose of our psalm response.  Paul has learned about Jesus
through Barnabas and Peter. He also has experienced the Risen Christ on the
road to Damascus.  All of these experiences have helped him to preach
boldly and with absolute assurance.  The Holy Spirit is working through him
as an instrument for the light of the nations.  He continues to speak in
the synagogues but soon that will change.  He is in Antioch in Pisidia in a
synagogue in the reading for today.  His fulfillment citation is taken
directly from Psalm 2: "You are my son; this day I have begotten you."

Jesus is that son of God and in the Gospel passage we tune in to his
discourse with his friends, the disciples, who are gathered with him to
celebrate his last passover meal.  They learn from him that he is for them
the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  We are familiar with Jesus' use of the
"I AM" statements (Ego eimi) which are meant for the Johannine community
that continues after him and the death of his apostles.

Thomas along with Philip are the disciples who ask questions during this
last supper with Jesus.  Thomas wants to know how to follow Jesus who is
the "Way".  He will continue to search for who Jesus is and finally as we
have already seen in the earlier Easter readings, he will proclaim Jesus as
"my Lord and my God."  He passes on to us his faith declaration and we who
have not seen Jesus as he did nevertheless confess that he is our Lord and
God.  We therefore are declared among the blessed who believe without
visible evidence of Jesus' presence. Another Thomas, who is a saint and
doctor of the Church tells us "Faith is first a fidelity to truth, indeed
to Truth himself."  He is thinking along the lines of the Fourth Gospel.
We can keep in mind these three titles of Jesus during this day. Let this
be our prayer.  Amen. Alleluia.