Daily Readings - Tue Jun 04 2019
Acts
17Then, sending from Miletus to Ephesus, he called those greater by birth in the church18And when they had come to him and were together, he said to them: "You know that from the first day when I entered into Asia, I have been with you, for the entire time, in this manner19serving the Lord, with all humility and despite the tears and trials which befell me from the treacheries of the Jews20how I held back nothing that was of value, how well I have preached to you, and that I have taught you publicly and throughout the houses21testifying both to Jews and to Gentiles about repentance in God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ22And now, behold, being obliged in spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there23except that the Holy Spirit, throughout every city, has cautioned me, saying that chains and tribulations await me at Jerusalem24But I dread none of these things. Neither do I consider my life to be more precious because it is my own, provided that in some way I may complete my own course and that of the ministry of the Word, which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God25And now, behold, I know that you will no longer see my face, all of you among whom I have traveled, preaching the kingdom of God26For this reason, I call you as witnesses on this very day: that I am clean from the blood of all27For I have not turned aside in the least from announcing every counsel of God to you
John
1Jesus said these things, and then, lifting up his eyes toward heaven, he said: "Father, the hour has arrived: glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you2just as you have given authority over all flesh to him, so that he may give eternal life to all those whom you have given to him3And this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent4I have glorified you on earth. I have completed the work that you gave me to accomplish5And now Father, glorify me within yourself, with the glory that I had with you before the world ever was6I have manifested your name to the men whom you have given to me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me. And they have kept your word7Now they realize that all the things that you have given me are from you8For I have given them the words that you gave to me. And they have accepted these words, and they have truly understood that I went forth from you, and they have believed that you sent me9I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those whom you have given to me. For they are yours10And all that is mine is yours, and all that is yours is mine, and I am glorified in this11And though I am not in the world, these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Father most holy, preserve them in your name, those whom you have given to me, so that they may be one, even as we are one
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of reflection and prayer from the New Testament. The first reading, from Acts 20:17-27, captures Paul's heartfelt farewell to the elders of Ephesus. Paul, aware of the impending challenges and trials as he journeys to Jerusalem, reflects on his ministry with humility and integrity. He emphasizes his unwavering commitment to preaching the Gospel, despite the hardships, and entrusts the elders with the responsibility of caring for the flock, acknowledging that he has fulfilled his duty to share God's counsel.
The Gospel reading, John 17:1-11a, presents Jesus in a moment of intimate prayer with the Father. Jesus, on the eve of His Passion, prays for glorification, not for Himself, but to fulfill His mission of revealing the Father's love. He prayed for His disciples, asking that they may be one, just as He and the Father are one. This prayer underscores the unity and love that should characterize the community of believers.
Both readings highlight themes of mission, unity, and trust in God's plan. Paul's courage in the face of trials and Jesus' prayer for unity remind us to stay committed to our faith mission, face challenges with courage, and strive for unity in our communities. The moral lesson here is one of trust in God's plan and the importance of unity among believers, reflecting the divine love and oneness shared between the Father and the Son.