Daily Readings - Fri May 11 2018
Acts
9Then the Lord said to Paul, through a vision in the night: "Do not be afraid. Instead, speak out and do not be silent10For I am with you. And no one will take hold of you, so as to do you harm. For many of the people in this city are with me.11Then he settled there for a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up with one accord against Paul. And they brought him to the tribunal13saying, "He persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.14Then, when Paul was beginning to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews: "If this were some matter of injustice, or a wicked deed, O noble Jews, I would support you, as is proper15Yet if truly these are questions about a word and names and your law, you should see to it yourselves. I will not be the judge of such things.16And he ordered them from the tribunal17But they, apprehending Sosthenes, a leader of the synagogue, beat him in front of the tribunal. And Gallio showed no concern for these things18Yet truly, Paul, after he had remained for many more days, having said goodbye to the brothers, sailed into Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. Now he had shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had made a vow
John
20Amen, amen, I say to you, that you shall mourn and weep, but the world will rejoice. And you shall be greatly saddened, yet your sorrow shall be turned into joy21A woman, when she is giving birth, has sorrow, because her hour has arrived. But when she has given birth to the child, then she no longer remembers the difficulties, because of the joy: for a man has been born into the world22Therefore, you also, indeed, have sorrow now. But I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice. And no one will take away your joy from you23And, in that day, you will not petition me for anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in my name, he will give it to you
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. The first reading from Acts tells us about St. Paul’s missionary journey in Corinth. Despite facing opposition from the Jews, Paul remains steadfast in his mission, encouraged by a vision from the Lord. The Lord assures him, “Do not be afraid. I am with you, and no one will harm you, for I have many people in this city who are mine.” Paul’s courage and trust in God’s providence allow him to continue teaching and spreading the Word of God, even in the face of persecution. The reading reminds us that our faith is not immune to challenges, but with God’s grace, we can overcome them.
The Gospel from John complements this message of trust and hope. Jesus tells His disciples that they will experience sorrow and weeping, but their sorrow will be transformed into joy. He compares this to a woman in childbirth, who endures pain but forgets it once she holds her newborn in her arms. Jesus promises that the disciples’ sorrow will turn to joy when they see Him again. This passage invites us to reflect on the temporary nature of suffering and the eternal joy that awaits us when we remain faithful to God’s plan. Just as Paul trusted in God’s presence and protection, we too can find strength in knowing that our trials are not without purpose.
These readings encourage us to embrace the ups and downs of life with faith and hope. Like Paul, we may face opposition or uncertainty, but God is always with us, guiding us and giving us the courage to persevere. Like the disciples, we may experience sorrow, but we can trust that it will be transformed into joy if we remain faithful. Let us ask ourselves: Where am I experiencing challenges or sorrow in my life? How can I trust in God’s presence and promises more deeply? May we, like Paul, remain steadfast in our mission and, like the disciples, hold onto the hope of eternal joy.