Daily Readings - Sun May 08 2022

¹⁴Yet truly, they, traveling on from Perga, arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. And upon entering the synagogue on the Sabbath day, they sat down⁴³And when the synagogue had been dismissed, many among the Jews and the new worshipers were following Paul and Barnabas. And they, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God⁴⁴Yet truly, on the following Sabbath, nearly the entire city came together to hear the Word of God⁴⁵Then the Jews, seeing the crowds, were filled with envy, and they, blaspheming, contradicted the things that were being said by Paul⁴⁶Then Paul and Barnabas said firmly: "It was necessary to speak the Word of God first to you. But because you reject it, and so judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles⁴⁷For so has the Lord instructed us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ⁴⁸Then the Gentiles, upon hearing this, were gladdened, and they were glorifying the Word of the Lord. And as many as believed were preordained to eternal life⁴⁹Now the word of the Lord was disseminated throughout the entire region⁵⁰But the Jews incited some devout and honest women, and the leaders of the city. And they stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas. And they drove them away from their parts⁵¹But they, shaking the dust from their feet against them, went on to Iconium⁵²The disciples were likewise filled with gladness and with the Holy Spirit

Revelation

Chapter 7

⁹After these things, I saw a great crowd, which no one could number, from all the nations and tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands¹⁴And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me: "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and have made them white by the blood of the Lamb¹⁵Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and they serve him, day and night, in his temple. And the One who sits upon the throne shall dwell over them¹⁶They shall not hunger, nor shall they thirst, anymore. Neither shall the sun beat down upon them, nor any heat¹⁷For the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will rule over them, and he will lead them to the fountains of the waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

John

Chapter 10

²⁷My sheep hear my voice. And I know them, and they follow me²⁸And I give them eternal life, and they shall not perish, for eternity. And no one shall seize them from my hand²⁹What my Father gave to me is greater than all, and no one is able to seize from the hand of my Father³⁰I and the Father are one.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the universal call to salvation and the unity of God's people. In the First Reading from Acts, we see Paul and Barnabas facing rejection by the Jews in Antioch, only to turn their attention to the Gentiles, who receive the Word of God with joy. This moment marks a significant shift in the early Christian Church, as the Gospel begins to spread beyond its Jewish roots. The Second Reading from Revelation offers a breathtaking vision of the end times, where people from every nation, tribe, and language stand before the throne of God, united in their worship and redemption through the blood of the Lamb. The Gospel from John complements these themes, as Jesus speaks of His sheep hearing His voice and receiving eternal life, emphasizing the intimate relationship between the Shepherd and His flock. These readings are deeply interconnected. The missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas in Acts foreshadows the universal vision of Revelation, where all people are gathered before God's throne. Jesus' promise of eternal life in John's Gospel underscores the ultimate purpose of this universal salvation. Together, they remind us that God's plan is not limited to a particular group but extends to all creation. The rejection by the Jews in Acts serves as a turning point, highlighting that the Gospel is for everyone, regardless of background or identity. In our daily lives, these readings call us to embrace the diversity of God's people and to trust in His providence. Just as Paul and Barnabas persevered despite persecution, we too are called to remain faithful, even in the face of challenges. The vision in Revelation encourages us to live with hope, knowing that our ultimate destiny is to be united with all the saints in worship before God's throne. Jesus' promise of eternal life reminds us to listen to His voice and to follow Him with confidence. Let us strive to be instruments of unity and inclusion, reflecting the universal love of God in our words and actions.