Daily Readings - Sun May 19 2019

²¹And when they had evangelized that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch²²strengthening the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them that they should remain always in the faith, and that it is necessary for us to enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations²³And when they had established priests for them in each church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they believed²⁴And traveling by way of Pisidia, they arrived in Pamphylia²⁵And having spoken the word of the Lord in Perga, they went down into Attalia²⁶And from there, they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had now accomplished²⁷And when they had arrived and had gathered together the church, they related what great things God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles

Revelation

Chapter 21

¹I saw the new heaven and the new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea is no more²And I, John, saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband³And I heard a great voice from the throne, saying: "Behold the tabernacle of God with men. And he will dwell with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be their God with them⁴And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death shall be no more. And neither mourning, nor crying out, nor grief shall be anymore. For the first things have passed away.⁵And the One who was sitting upon the throne, said, "Behold, I make all things new." And he said to me, "Write, for these words are entirely faithful and true.

John

Chapter 13

¹Before the feast day of the Passover, Jesus knew that the hour was approaching when he would pass from this world to the Father. And since he had always loved his own who were in the world, he loved them unto the end³¹Then, when he had gone out, Jesus said: "Now the Son of man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him³²If God has been glorified in him, then God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him without delay³³Little sons, for a brief while, I am with you. You shall seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you are not able to go,’ so also I say to you now³⁴I give you a new commandment: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also must you love one another³⁵By this, all shall recognize that you are my disciples: if you will have love for one another.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we journey through the early Christian church’s perseverance, a vision of eternal hope, and the commandment of love that binds us together. The first reading from Acts recounts Paul and Barnabas's missionary efforts, highlighting their dedication to spreading the Gospel despite tribulations. They established communities, appointed leaders, and entrusted their flock to God, exemplifying faith and resilience. This narrative underscores the challenges faced by the early church and the importance of standing firm in faith. The second reading from Revelation presents a glorious vision of the New Jerusalem, where God dwells among His people, erasing sorrow and death. This apocalyptic imagery offers hope, reminding us that our earthly struggles are temporary, and God’s promise of eternal life with Him is our ultimate destination. It inspires us to persevere, knowing that our efforts are not in vain. In the Gospel, Jesus, during His last moments with His disciples, issues a new commandment: to love one another as He has loved us. This love is not merely emotional but selfless and sacrificial, reflecting God’s love. It is through this love that we are recognized as His disciples. The connection between the readings is clear: the perseverance in Acts is fueled by the hope in Revelation, and both are lived out through the love commanded in John. In our daily lives, we face challenges, but like the early church, we can endure through faith. Holding onto the hope of eternal life, we are called to love selflessly, just as Christ loved us. This love transforms our interactions, fostering a community that reflects God’s presence. The moral lesson is clear: love is the foundation of Christian life, making us true disciples and guiding us toward the heavenly vision. Let us embrace this love, living it out in every moment, as we journey toward the promise of eternal life.