Daily Readings - Sat May 28 2022
Acts
23And having spent some length of time there, he set out, and he walked in order through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples24Now a certain Jew named Apollo, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man who was powerful with the Scriptures, arrived at Ephesus25He was learned in the Way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching the things that are of Jesus, but knowing only the baptism of John26And so, he began to act faithfully in the synagogue. And when Priscilla and Aquila had heard him, they took him aside and expounded the Way of the Lord to him more thoroughly27Then, since he wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers wrote an exhortation to the disciples, so that they might accept him. And when he had arrived, he held many discussions with those who had believed28For he was vehemently and publicly reproving the Jews, by revealing through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ
John
23And, in that day, you will not petition me for anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in my name, he will give it to you24Until now, you have not requested anything in my name. Ask, and you shall receive, so that your joy may be full25I have spoken these things to you in proverbs. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in proverbs; instead, I will announce to you plainly from the Father26In that day, you shall ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father for you27For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and because you have believed that I went forth from God28I went forth from the Father, and I have come into the world. Next I am leaving the world, and I am going to the Father.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about the nature of faith, teaching, and prayer. The first reading from Acts describes the missionary journeys of Paul and the emergence of Apollos, a gifted preacher who, despite his eloquence, needed further instruction in the Way of the Lord. Priscilla and Aquila, a couple deeply rooted in their faith, took him aside and enriched his understanding, enabling him to proclaim the Gospel even more effectively. This passage reminds us that faith is a journey of growth, and even the most gifted among us need guidance and deeper formation.
The Gospel reading from John takes us into the intimate conversation between Jesus and His disciples. Jesus speaks of a time when they will no longer need to ask Him for anything, for they will be able to ask the Father directly in His name. He assures them that the Father loves them and that their joy will be complete when they pray with this confidence. This passage invites us to reflect on the depth of our relationship with God. It reminds us that prayer is not just a request for favors but a communion of love, rooted in the knowledge that we are beloved by the Father.
Both readings call us to live our faith with humility and confidence. Like Apollos, we must be open to learning and growing in our understanding of God’s ways. Like the disciples, we are invited to pray with boldness, knowing that the Father’s love for us is boundless. Let us ask ourselves: Am I open to being taught and guided in my faith? Do I approach prayer with the confidence that I am loved and heard? May we, like Apollos, allow others to help us deepen our faith, and may we, like the disciples, pray with the assurance that we are children of a loving Father.