Daily Readings - Sun May 12 2019

¹⁴Yet truly, they, traveling on from Perga, arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. And upon entering the synagogue on the Sabbath day, they sat down⁴³And when the synagogue had been dismissed, many among the Jews and the new worshipers were following Paul and Barnabas. And they, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God⁴⁴Yet truly, on the following Sabbath, nearly the entire city came together to hear the Word of God⁴⁵Then the Jews, seeing the crowds, were filled with envy, and they, blaspheming, contradicted the things that were being said by Paul⁴⁶Then Paul and Barnabas said firmly: "It was necessary to speak the Word of God first to you. But because you reject it, and so judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles⁴⁷For so has the Lord instructed us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ⁴⁸Then the Gentiles, upon hearing this, were gladdened, and they were glorifying the Word of the Lord. And as many as believed were preordained to eternal life⁴⁹Now the word of the Lord was disseminated throughout the entire region⁵⁰But the Jews incited some devout and honest women, and the leaders of the city. And they stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas. And they drove them away from their parts⁵¹But they, shaking the dust from their feet against them, went on to Iconium⁵²The disciples were likewise filled with gladness and with the Holy Spirit

Revelation

Chapter 7

⁹After these things, I saw a great crowd, which no one could number, from all the nations and tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands¹⁴And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me: "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and have made them white by the blood of the Lamb¹⁵Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and they serve him, day and night, in his temple. And the One who sits upon the throne shall dwell over them¹⁶They shall not hunger, nor shall they thirst, anymore. Neither shall the sun beat down upon them, nor any heat¹⁷For the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will rule over them, and he will lead them to the fountains of the waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

John

Chapter 10

²⁷My sheep hear my voice. And I know them, and they follow me²⁸And I give them eternal life, and they shall not perish, for eternity. And no one shall seize them from my hand²⁹What my Father gave to me is greater than all, and no one is able to seize from the hand of my Father³⁰I and the Father are one.

Sermon

In today's readings, we journey through the expansion of God's message, a vision of eternal unity, and the assurance of divine protection. The first reading from Acts illustrates the early church's missionary efforts, where Paul and Barnabas face rejection but find receptiveness among Gentiles, highlighting the universal call to salvation. The second reading from Revelation presents a glorious vision of a diverse multitude united in worship before God's throne, symbolizing the ultimate destiny of all believers. The Gospel from John assures us of Jesus' personal connection with His followers, promising eternal life and security in His care. These readings connect by showcasing the progression of God's plan: from the initial spread of the Gospel beyond Jewish communities, to the future vision of heavenly unity, and the personal assurance of salvation. They remind us that our faith is part of a larger narrative, embracing all nations and tribes, and leading to eternal life with God. In daily life, these readings encourage us to trust in God's expansive plan, to embrace diversity as part of His community, and to endure challenges with faith. The moral lesson is clear: God's salvation is universal, and through faith in Jesus, we are assured of eternal life, united in worship and service to Him. Let us live with this assurance, trusting in His care and embracing our role in His diverse and eternal family.