Daily Readings - Fri May 29 2020

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 enduring call to follow Christ. The first reading from Acts recounts Paul’s imprisonment and his appeal to Caesar, highlighting his unwavering faith amidst uncertainty. The Gospel from John presents a poignant conversation between Jesus and Peter, where Peter’s love is tested, and he is entrusted with the care of Christ’s flock. These passages, though distinct, share a common theme of trust and service. Paul’s situation illustrates the challenges of standing firm in faith, even when the path ahead is unclear. His determination to appeal to Caesar, despite the risks, shows his commitment to spreading the Gospel. Similarly, Peter’s interaction with Jesus underscores the depth of love and responsibility that comes with following Christ. Jesus’ threefold question to Peter, despite his earlier denial, is a moment of grace and reinstatement, charging Peter with the care of His sheep. In our daily lives, these readings remind us to trust in God’s plan, even when faced with adversity. Like Paul, we may encounter trials that test our faith, but through perseverance, we can emerge stronger. Like Peter, we are called to love deeply and serve others, recognizing that our love for God is expressed through our actions. Let us embrace the challenges and opportunities of each day with faith, trusting that God’s plan will unfold, and that our service to others is a testament to our love for Him.