Daily Readings - Tue May 21 2019

¹⁹Now certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived there. And having persuaded the crowd, they stoned Paul and dragged him outside of the city, thinking him to be dead²⁰But as the disciples were standing around him, he got up and entered the city. And the next day, he set out with Barnabas for Derbe²¹And 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 Gentiles²⁸And they remained for no small amount of time with the disciples

John

Chapter 14

²⁷Peace I leave for you; my Peace I give to you. Not in the way that the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and let it not fear²⁸You have heard that I said to you: I am going away, and I am returning to you. If you loved me, certainly you would be gladdened, because I am going to the Father. For the Father is greater than I²⁹And now I have told you this, before it happens, so that, when it will happen, you may believe³⁰I will not now speak at length with you. For the prince of this world is coming, but he does not have anything in me³¹Yet this is so that the world may know that I love the Father, and that I am acting according to the commandment that the Father has given to me. Rise up, let us go from here.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on faith, perseverance, and trust in God’s plan. The first reading from Acts describes the challenges faced by Paul and Barnabas as they spread the Gospel. Despite being stoned and left for dead, Paul rises, continues his mission, and strengthens the faith of the early Christian communities. This passage reminds us that following Christ is not without its trials, but through faith, we find the strength to endure and even flourish amidst adversity. The Gospel from John offers a message of peace and trust. Jesus reassures his disciples that though he is leaving them, his peace remains with them—a peace that the world cannot give. He encourages them to trust in God’s plan, knowing that the Father is greater than all, and that even in the face of challenges, God’s love and commandments guide us. Both readings are deeply connected by the theme of trust and perseverance in the face of uncertainty. Paul’s courage in the face of physical and spiritual trials mirrors the trust Jesus asks of his disciples. Just as Paul and Barnabas relied on God to sustain them in their missionary work, Jesus invites us to rely on his peace and the Father’s love, even when the world seems overwhelming. These readings remind us that our faith is not about avoiding struggles but about facing them with courage and hope, knowing that God is always with us. In our daily lives, these readings call us to reflect on how we respond to challenges. Do we let fear or doubt take root, or do we trust in God’s plan and find peace in his presence? Like Paul, we are called to rise again after every fall, to continue our journey of faith, and to strengthen one another in the process. Like the disciples, we are reminded that true peace comes not from the world but from Christ. Let us strive to live with this peace, trusting that even in the midst of tribulations, God’s love and grace will see us through. May we, like Paul and the early Christians, remain steadfast in our faith and share the joy of the Gospel with others.