Daily Readings - Wed May 11 2022
Acts
1Now there were, in the Church at Antioch, prophets and teachers, among whom were Barnabas, and Simon, who was called the Black, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manahen, who was the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul2Now as they were ministering for the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them: "Separate Saul and Barnabas for me, for the work for which I have selected them.3Then, fasting and praying and imposing their hands upon them, they sent them away4And having been sent by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia. And from there they sailed to Cyprus5And when they had arrived at Salamis, they were preaching the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they also had John in the ministry
John
44But Jesus cried out and said: "Whoever believes in me, does not believe in me, but in him who sent me45And whoever sees me, sees him who sent me46I have arrived as a light to the world, so that all who believe in me might not remain in darkness47And if anyone has heard my words and not kept them, I do not judge him. For I did not come so that I may judge the world, but so that I may save the world48Whoever despises me and does not accept my words has one who judges him. The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him on the last day49For I am not speaking from myself, but from the Father who sent me. He gave a commandment to me as to what I should say and how I should speak50And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Therefore, the things that I speak, just as the Father has said to me, so also do I speak.
Sermon
In today's readings, we witness the early church's vibrant faith and Jesus' profound message of divine mission. The Acts passage highlights the church in Antioch, guided by the Holy Spirit, commissioning Barnabas and Saul for their missionary journey. This episode underscores the church's reliance on the Spirit and obedience to God's will, illustrating how the early believers were attuned to divine guidance, embarking on their mission with fasting and prayer.
In the Gospel, Jesus emphasizes His role as a light to the world, sent by the Father. He clarifies that His mission is one of salvation, not judgment, yet warns that rejection of His message will lead to judgment by His words. This duality of salvation and judgment underscores the seriousness of responding to God's Word.
These readings remind us to listen to the Holy Spirit's promptings in our lives, just as the early church did. Like Barnabas and Saul, we are called to share God's Word with others. Jesus' message invites us to embrace His light, avoiding the darkness of sin, and to take responsibility for living according to His teachings. May we, in our daily lives, obey God's will and share His love, mindful of the eternal life His commandment offers.