Daily Readings - Sat May 05 2018
Acts
1Then he arrived at Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a faithful Jewish woman, his father a Gentile2The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium rendered good testimony to him3Paul wanted this man to travel with him, and taking him, he circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in those places. For they all knew that his father was a Gentile4And as they were traveling through the cities, they delivered to them the dogmas to be kept, which were decreed by the Apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem5And certainly, the Churches were being strengthened in faith and were increasing in number every day6Then, while crossing through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the Word in Asia7But when they had arrived in Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them8Then, when they had crossed through Mysia, they descended to Troas9And a vision in the night was revealed to Paul of a certain man of Macedonia, standing and pleading with him, and saying: "Cross into Macedonia and help us!10Then, after he saw the vision, immediately we sought to set out for Macedonia, having been assured that God had called us to evangelize to them
John
18If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you19If you had been of the world, the world would love what is its own. Yet truly, you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world; because of this, the world hates you20Remember my saying that I told you: The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours also21But all these things they will do to you because of my name, for they do not know him who sent me
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that guide us in understanding our mission as followers of Christ. The first reading from Acts 16:1-10 describes Paul's missionary journey, highlighting his adaptability and obedience to the Holy Spirit. Paul circumcises Timothy to facilitate their mission among the Jews, demonstrating his willingness to take necessary steps for the Gospel's sake. Despite facing closed doors in certain regions, Paul remains attentive to the Spirit's guidance, leading him to Macedonia through a vision. This passage underscores the importance of discernment and flexibility in our own journeys of faith.
The Gospel from John 15:18-21 shifts our focus to Jesus' words about the world's hatred towards His disciples. Jesus clarifies that this hatred stems from our status as outsiders in the world, chosen by Him to be different. He reminds us that persecution is inevitable, just as He experienced, but assures us that those who keep His word will also keep ours. This passage invites us to embrace our identity as disciples, recognizing that our commitment to Christ may lead to challenges but also to profound witness.
These readings intertwine by emphasizing our call to follow God's will faithfully, even amidst adversity. Like Paul, we must listen to the Spirit's prompting and adapt our paths as needed. Like the disciples, we must embrace our role as outsiders in the world, enduring hardships with the assurance of Christ's presence. In our daily lives, this means remaining open to God's leading, whether through unexpected opportunities or through perseverance in difficult circumstances. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's plan, and He will guide us where we are needed most. Let us, therefore, walk in faith, ready to serve and witness, trusting that God's will prevails.