Daily Readings - Thu Apr 26 2018

First Reading - Acts 13.13-25

¹³And when Paul and those who were with him had sailed from Paphos, they arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. Then John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem¹⁴Yet truly, they, traveling on from Perga, arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. And upon entering the synagogue on the Sabbath day, they sat down¹⁵Then, after the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent to them, saying: "Noble brothers, if there is in you any word of exhortation to the people, speak.¹⁶Then Paul, rising up and motioning for silence with his hand, said: "Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen closely¹⁷The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people, when they were settlers in the land of Egypt. And with an exalted arm, he led them away from there¹⁸And throughout a time of forty years, he endured their behavior in the desert¹⁹And by destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he divided their land among them by lot²⁰after about four hundred and fifty years. And after these things, he gave them judges, even until the prophet Samuel²¹And later on, they petitioned for a king. And God gave them Saul, the son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years²²And having removed him, he raised up for them king David. And offering testimony about him, he said, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, to be a man according to my own heart, who will accomplish all that I will.²³From his offspring, according to the Promise, God has brought Jesus the Savior to Israel²⁴John was preaching, before the face of his advent, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel²⁵Then, when John completed his course, he was saying: ‘I am not the one you consider me to be. For behold, one arrives after me, the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to loosen.

Gospel - John 13.16-20

John

Chapter 13

¹⁶Amen, amen, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his Lord, and the apostle is not greater than he who sent him¹⁷If you understand this, you shall be blessed if you will do it¹⁸I am not speaking about all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But this is so that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me shall lift up his heel against me.¹⁹And I tell you this now, before it happens, so that when it has happened, you may believe that I am²⁰Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives anyone whom I send, receives me. And whoever receives me, receives him who sent me.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that guide us in understanding the essence of leadership and service. The first reading from Acts 13:13-25 presents Paul preaching in the synagogue at Antioch, tracing the history of Israel and highlighting God’s faithfulness. Paul connects this history to the coming of Jesus, emphasizing that the promise of salvation is fulfilled in Him. The second reading, John 13:16-20, captures Jesus during the Last Supper, where He underscores the importance of humility and unity among His disciples, urging them to follow His example of servant leadership. The context of these readings is significant. Paul’s sermon in Acts is part of his missionary journey, where he seeks to connect the Jewish community with the message of Jesus, showing how He is the culmination of their history. In John’s Gospel, the setting is intimate, as Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure, teaching them about true leadership and unity. Both readings highlight the themes of leadership and service, illustrating that true authority is rooted in humility and love. These readings relate by emphasizing the call to serve and follow God’s plan. Paul’s sermon and Jesus’ teachings remind us that our roles are not about personal glory but about serving others. This call to service is universal, applicable in our daily lives. Whether in our communities, workplaces, or homes, we are invited to embrace humility and serve with love. The moral lesson here is clear: true leadership mirrors Jesus’ example, prioritizing the needs of others and remaining faithful to God’s plan. As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we can embody servant leadership in our own lives. May we strive to serve with humility, unity, and love, following the path laid out by Jesus and proclaimed by Paul. In doing so, we not only honor God but also become instruments of His grace in the world.