Daily Readings - Thu May 13 2021
Acts
1After these things, having departed from Athens, he arrived at Corinth2And upon finding a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with Priscilla his wife, (because Claudius had ordered all Jews to depart from Rome,) he met with them3And because he was of the same trade, he lodged with them and was working. (Now they were tentmakers by trade.4And he was arguing in the synagogue on every Sabbath, introducing the name of the Lord Jesus. And he was persuading Jews and Greeks5And when Silas and Timothy had arrived from Macedonia, Paul stood firm in the Word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ6But since they were contradicting him and blaspheming, he shook out his garments and said to them: "Your blood is on your own heads. I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles.7And moving from that place, he entered into the house of a certain man, named Titus the Just, a worshiper of God, whose house was adjoined to the synagogue8Now Crispus, a leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, with his entire house. And many of the Corinthians, upon hearing, believed and were baptized
John
16A little while, and then you will not see me. And again a little while, and you will see me. For I am going to the Father.17Then some of his disciples said to one another: "What is this, that he is saying to us: ‘A little while, and you will not see me,’ and ‘Again a little while, and you will see me,’ and, ‘For I am going to the Father?’ 18And they said: "What is this, that he is saying, ‘A little while?’ We do not understand what he is saying.19But Jesus realized that they wanted to question him, and so he said to them: "Are you inquiring among yourselves about this, that I said: ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me?20Amen, amen, I say to you, that you shall mourn and weep, but the world will rejoice. And you shall be greatly saddened, yet your sorrow shall be turned into joy
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on perseverance, trust, and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from Acts 18:1-8 recounts Paul's journey to Corinth, where he faces rejection but continues his missionary work, leading to the conversion of many. The Gospel, John 16:16-20, presents Jesus comforting His disciples with the promise that their sorrow will turn to joy, despite the temporary nature of their suffering.
Both readings are set against the backdrop of challenge and change. Paul, in Corinth, exemplifies perseverance despite opposition, while Jesus prepares His disciples for the trials ahead, assuring them of ultimate joy. These contexts highlight the universal theme of enduring difficulty with faith, knowing that God's plan often unfolds beyond our immediate understanding.
In our daily lives, we often face setbacks and uncertainties. These readings encourage us to embrace perseverance and trust in God's plan. Just as Paul found success among the Gentiles after facing rejection, and just as the disciples found joy after sorrow, we too can transform our struggles into opportunities for growth. The moral lesson here is clear: our faith assures us that sorrow is temporary, and through enduring hardship with trust, we can find profound joy. Let us carry this hope in our hearts, knowing that God weaves our challenges into a tapestry of greater good.