Daily Readings - Sat May 08 2021
Acts
1Then he arrived at Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a faithful Jewish woman, his father a Gentile2The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium rendered good testimony to him3Paul wanted this man to travel with him, and taking him, he circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in those places. For they all knew that his father was a Gentile4And as they were traveling through the cities, they delivered to them the dogmas to be kept, which were decreed by the Apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem5And certainly, the Churches were being strengthened in faith and were increasing in number every day6Then, while crossing through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the Word in Asia7But when they had arrived in Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them8Then, when they had crossed through Mysia, they descended to Troas9And a vision in the night was revealed to Paul of a certain man of Macedonia, standing and pleading with him, and saying: "Cross into Macedonia and help us!10Then, after he saw the vision, immediately we sought to set out for Macedonia, having been assured that God had called us to evangelize to them
John
18If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you19If you had been of the world, the world would love what is its own. Yet truly, you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world; because of this, the world hates you20Remember my saying that I told you: The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours also21But all these things they will do to you because of my name, for they do not know him who sent me
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through the missionary travels of Paul and the profound words of Jesus, each offering insights into faith and perseverance. The first reading from Acts 16:1-10 introduces us to Timothy, a young disciple chosen by Paul for his missionary journey. Despite the challenges, including Timothy's circumcision to appease the Jews, Paul's obedience and the Spirit's guidance are evident. This passage highlights the early church's commitment to spreading the Gospel, even in the face of adversity.
The Gospel from John 15:18-21 shifts our focus to Jesus' warning about the world's hatred towards His followers. Jesus explains that this hatred stems from the world's rejection of Him, emphasizing that His disciples are not of the world. He reminds us that just as He faced persecution, so will we, but we are not alone. Jesus' words assure us that the Father's presence and support are always with us, even in times of trial.
These readings intertwine beautifully, illustrating the dual nature of our faith: the call to mission and the promise of divine accompaniment. Paul's journey shows us the practical aspects of following God's will, while Jesus' words in John remind us of the spiritual strength needed to endure. Together, they teach us to embrace our missionary calling with courage, trusting in God's providence. As we face our own challenges, let us draw inspiration from these readings, standing firm in our faith and trusting in God's guidance.