Daily Readings - Fri May 18 2018

Acts

Chapter 24

²⁷Then, when two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus. And since Felix wanted to show particular favor to the Jews, he left Paul behind as a prisoner

¹³And when some days had passed, king Agrippa and Bernice descended to Caesarea, to greet Festus¹⁴And since they remained there for many days, Festus spoke to the king about Paul, saying: "A certain man was left behind as a prisoner by Felix¹⁵When I was at Jerusalem, the leaders of the priests and the elders of the Jews came to me about him, asking for condemnation against him¹⁶I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before he who is being accused has been confronted by his accusers and has received the opportunity to defend himself, so as to clear himself of the charges¹⁷Therefore, when they had arrived here, without any delay, on the following day, sitting in the judgment seat, I ordered the man to be brought¹⁸But when the accusers had stood up, they did not present any accusation about him from which I would suspect evil¹⁹Instead, they brought against him certain disputes about their own superstition and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive²⁰Therefore, being in doubt about this kind of question, I asked him if he was willing go to Jerusalem and to be judged there about these things²¹But since Paul was appealing to be kept for a decision before Augustus, I ordered him to be kept, until I might send him to Caesar.

John

Chapter 21

¹⁵Then, when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs.¹⁶He said to him again: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs.¹⁷He said to him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was very grieved that he had asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" And so he said to him: "Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my sheep¹⁸Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you are older, you will extend your hands, and another shall gird you and lead you where you do not want to go.¹⁹Now he said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to faith, perseverance, and the transformative power of love. In the first reading from Acts, we see Paul, a prisoner of his faith, standing firm despite the uncertainty of his situation. Festus, the new governor, is perplexed by the charges against Paul, which revolve around religious disputes rather than any real crime. This passage reminds us that living as a follower of Christ can sometimes lead to misunderstandings and challenges, but it also highlights the importance of remaining steadfast in our commitment to the truth. In the Gospel, Jesus engages Peter in a deeply personal conversation after His resurrection. Three times, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, and each time, Peter affirms his love. Jesus responds by entrusting Peter with the care of His flock, saying, "Feed my sheep." This exchange is not just about Peter; it is about all of us. Jesus is calling us to love Him with a love that is demonstrated through service and care for others. Just as Peter was called to shepherd the early Church, we too are called to tend to the needs of those around us, whether in our families, communities, or workplaces. These readings challenge us to examine how we live out our faith in daily life. Like Paul, we may face situations where our beliefs are misunderstood or tested. Like Peter, we are called to love deeply and to serve selflessly. The moral lesson here is clear: our faith must be more than words; it must be lived out in action. Let us ask ourselves today: How am I feeding Christ's sheep? How am I living out my love for Him in the midst of life's challenges? May we, like Paul and Peter, embrace the call to follow Christ with courage, perseverance, and love.