Daily Readings - Thu May 26 2022
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 moments of transition and transformation, both in the life of Paul and in the words of Jesus. In Acts, Paul finds himself in Corinth, where he continues his missionary work despite facing rejection from the Jews. He works as a tentmaker, preaches in the synagogue, and eventually turns to the Gentiles, leading many to faith. This shift marks a significant moment in the spread of Christianity, as the Gospel begins to reach beyond the Jewish community. In John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about His impending departure, using the metaphor of a little while to describe the time until they will see Him again. He reassures them that their sorrow will turn into joy, much like a woman in childbirth who forgets her pain once she holds her child.
These readings are deeply connected, as both Paul and Jesus deal with transitions that bring both challenge and hope. Paul’s move to the Gentiles represents a broader inclusion of all people in God’s plan, while Jesus prepares His disciples for the transition of His physical absence and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Both stories remind us that change, though often difficult, is a part of growth and transformation. Just as Paul trusted in God’s plan to reach new people, and just as the disciples would come to understand Jesus’ words after the Resurrection, we too can trust that our struggles and uncertainties are part of a larger purpose.
In our daily lives, we often face moments of transition—times when we must let go of the familiar and step into the unknown. These readings encourage us to embrace such moments with faith and perseverance. Like Paul, we may encounter resistance or setbacks, but we can trust that God is opening new doors. Like the disciples, we may experience sorrow or confusion, but we can hold onto the promise that our sorrow will be turned into joy. Let us remember that every challenge is an opportunity to grow closer to God and to share His love with others. May we, like Paul, be bold in our witness, and may we, like the disciples, trust in the transformative power of God’s plan.