Daily Readings - Mon May 25 2020
Acts
1Now it happened that, while Apollo was at Corinth, Paul, after he had journeyed through the upper regions, arrived at Ephesus. And he met with certain disciples2And he said to them, "After believing, have you received the Holy Spirit?" But they said to him, "We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.3Yet truly, he said, "Then with what have you been baptized?" And they said, "With the baptism of John.4Then Paul said: "John baptized the people with the baptism of repentance, saying that they should believe in the One who is to come after him, that is, in Jesus.5Upon hearing these things, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus6And when Paul had imposed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came over them. And they were speaking in tongues and prophesying7Now the men were about twelve in all8Then, upon entering the synagogue, he was speaking faithfully for three months, disputing and persuading them about the kingdom of God
John
29His disciples said to him: "Behold, now you are speaking plainly and not reciting a proverb30Now we know that you know all things, and that you have no need for anyone to question you. By this, we believe that you went forth from God.31Jesus answered them: "Do you believe now32Behold, the hour is coming, and it has now arrived, when you will be scattered, each one on his own, and you will leave me behind, alone. And yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me33These things I have spoken to you, so that you may have peace in me. In the world, you will have difficulties. But have confidence: I have overcome the world.
Sermon
The first reading from Acts and the Gospel of John both invite us to reflect on the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In Acts, Paul encounters disciples in Ephesus who had been baptized with John’s baptism but had not yet received the Holy Spirit. Paul explains that John’s baptism was a call to repentance, preparing the way for faith in Jesus. After baptizing them in the name of Jesus, Paul lays hands on them, and they receive the Holy Spirit, manifesting His presence through tongues and prophecy. This passage reminds us that the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of God’s promise and the source of our spiritual vitality.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the challenges they will face after His departure. He assures them that even though they will be scattered and face difficulties, they should not lose heart because He has overcome the world. Jesus emphasizes that the Father is always with Him, and through faith, His disciples can find peace in the midst of turmoil. This passage invites us to trust in God’s presence and providence, even when the world seems uncertain.
Together, these readings remind us that the Holy Spirit is our strength and our peace. In Acts, the Spirit empowers believers to live boldly as witnesses of Christ. In John’s Gospel, the Spirit is the source of the peace that Jesus leaves with His disciples. In our daily lives, we can apply this by trusting in the Holy Spirit’s guidance and seeking His comfort when we face challenges. Let us ask for the courage to live as Spirit-filled disciples, confident that God is always with us, even in the midst of difficulties.