Daily Readings - Fri Jun 07 2019

Acts

Chapter 24

²⁷Then, when two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus. And since Felix wanted to show particular favor to the Jews, he left Paul behind as a prisoner

¹³And when some days had passed, king Agrippa and Bernice descended to Caesarea, to greet Festus¹⁴And since they remained there for many days, Festus spoke to the king about Paul, saying: "A certain man was left behind as a prisoner by Felix¹⁵When I was at Jerusalem, the leaders of the priests and the elders of the Jews came to me about him, asking for condemnation against him¹⁶I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before he who is being accused has been confronted by his accusers and has received the opportunity to defend himself, so as to clear himself of the charges¹⁷Therefore, when they had arrived here, without any delay, on the following day, sitting in the judgment seat, I ordered the man to be brought¹⁸But when the accusers had stood up, they did not present any accusation about him from which I would suspect evil¹⁹Instead, they brought against him certain disputes about their own superstition and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive²⁰Therefore, being in doubt about this kind of question, I asked him if he was willing go to Jerusalem and to be judged there about these things²¹But since Paul was appealing to be kept for a decision before Augustus, I ordered him to be kept, until I might send him to Caesar.

John

Chapter 21

¹⁵Then, when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs.¹⁶He said to him again: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs.¹⁷He said to him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was very grieved that he had asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" And so he said to him: "Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my sheep¹⁸Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you are older, you will extend your hands, and another shall gird you and lead you where you do not want to go.¹⁹Now he said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, leadership, and the challenges of following Christ. The first reading from Acts recounts Paul’s imprisonment and legal journey, highlighting his unwavering faith amidst adversity. Despite the weak accusations against him, Paul’s commitment to his mission never wavers, demonstrating his trust in God’s plan. The second reading from John’s Gospel presents a poignant moment where Jesus restores Peter, asking him three times if he loves Him. Each affirmation leads to a charge to “feed His sheep,” culminating in a prediction of Peter’s future martyrdom. This exchange underscores the essence of leadership rooted in love and self-sacrifice. Both readings, though distinct, share a common theme of discipleship. Paul’s perseverance in the face of legal challenges and Peter’s acceptance of his mission illustrate the different yet complementary aspects of following Christ. Paul’s story emphasizes enduring trials with faith, while Peter’s narrative highlights the transformative power of love and the responsibility that comes with it. Together, they remind us that our faith is not merely a belief but a call to action, whether through steadfastness in adversity or through loving service to others. In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to embrace our own missions with courage and love. Like Paul, we may face unexpected challenges, but our faith should remain unshaken. Like Peter, we are called to love deeply and serve selflessly, even when the path is difficult. Let us draw inspiration from these examples, remembering that our faith journey is not about comfort but about fidelity to God’s will. May we, like Paul and Peter, embrace our crosses with grace and fulfill the mission entrusted to us, glorifying God in all we do.