Daily Readings - Sat May 19 2018
Acts
16And when we had arrived at Rome, Paul was given permission to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him17And after the third day, he called together the leaders of the Jews. And when they had convened, he said to them: "Noble brothers, I have done nothing against the people, nor against the customs of the fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans18And after they held a hearing about me, they would have released me, because there was no case for death against me19But with the Jews speaking against me, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, though it was not as if I had any kind of accusation against my own nation20And so, because of this, I requested to see you and to speak to you. For it is because of the hope of Israel that I am encircled with this chain.30Then he remained for two whole years in his own rented lodgings. And he received all who went in to him31preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which are from the Lord Jesus Christ, with all faithfulness, without prohibition
John
20Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, the one who also had leaned on his chest at supper and said, "Lord, who is it who shall betray you?21Therefore, when Peter had seen him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, but what about this one?22Jesus said to him: "If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow me.23Therefore, the saying went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, "If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?24This is the same disciple who offers testimony about these things, and who has written these things. And we know that his testimony is true25Now there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if each of these were written down, the world itself, I suppose, would not be able to contain the books that would be written
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful testimonies of faith and perseverance. The first reading from Acts describes Paul’s time in Rome, where, despite being under house arrest, he continued to preach the Gospel with unwavering dedication. Paul explains to the Jewish leaders that he has done nothing wrong and that his imprisonment is the result of false accusations. Yet, even in chains, he remains steadfast in his mission, teaching about the kingdom of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. His example shows us that even in the most challenging circumstances, our faith can shine through.
The Gospel from John 21 shifts our focus to a conversation between Jesus and Peter. After the resurrection, Peter notices John following Jesus and asks, “What about him?” Jesus responds by telling Peter not to be concerned with John’s path but to focus on his own: “You follow me.” This exchange reminds us that each of us has a unique role in God’s plan. It is easy to get distracted by comparing ourselves to others or worrying about their journey, but Jesus calls us to trust in His plan and to focus on our own relationship with Him.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Like Paul, we may face obstacles or challenges, but we are called to remain faithful and to share the Good News with others, no matter the circumstances. Like Peter, we may be tempted to look at others and wonder about their path, but Jesus reminds us to focus on our own call to follow Him. Let us trust in God’s plan for us and remain committed to living out our faith with perseverance and joy.