Daily Readings - Tue May 17 2022

¹⁹Now certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived there. And having persuaded the crowd, they stoned Paul and dragged him outside of the city, thinking him to be dead²⁰But as the disciples were standing around him, he got up and entered the city. And the next day, he set out with Barnabas for Derbe²¹And when they had evangelized that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch²²strengthening the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them that they should remain always in the faith, and that it is necessary for us to enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations²³And when they had established priests for them in each church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they believed²⁴And traveling by way of Pisidia, they arrived in Pamphylia²⁵And having spoken the word of the Lord in Perga, they went down into Attalia²⁶And from there, they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had now accomplished²⁷And when they had arrived and had gathered together the church, they related what great things God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles²⁸And they remained for no small amount of time with the disciples

John

Chapter 14

²⁷Peace I leave for you; my Peace I give to you. Not in the way that the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and let it not fear²⁸You have heard that I said to you: I am going away, and I am returning to you. If you loved me, certainly you would be gladdened, because I am going to the Father. For the Father is greater than I²⁹And now I have told you this, before it happens, so that, when it will happen, you may believe³⁰I will not now speak at length with you. For the prince of this world is coming, but he does not have anything in me³¹Yet this is so that the world may know that I love the Father, and that I am acting according to the commandment that the Father has given to me. Rise up, let us go from here.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, perseverance, and divine trust. The first reading from Acts recounts Paul’s missionary journey, where he faces intense persecution, including being stoned and left for dead. Yet, Paul resiliently continues his mission, establishing churches and strengthening the faith of the early Christians. This passage highlights the early church’s challenges and the unwavering commitment of its missionaries. The Gospel from John presents Jesus comforting His disciples before His departure. He offers them a peace that transcends the world’s understanding, rooted in His obedience to the Father. Jesus’ words are a farewell discourse, preparing His followers for the challenges ahead, emphasizing trust and faith in divine providence. Both readings intersect in their themes of trust and perseverance amidst adversity. Paul’s resilience mirrors Jesus’ trust in the Father, illustrating how faith navigates us through life’s trials. These stories remind us to face challenges with courage and trust in God’s plan, finding peace in His presence. Let us embrace this peace, enduring hardships with faith, just as Paul and Jesus did, trusting that God’s grace will guide us through.