Daily Readings - Thu Jun 02 2022
Acts
30But on the next day, wanting to discover more diligently what the reason was that he was accused by the Jews, he released him, and he ordered the priests to convene, with the entire council. And, producing Paul, he stationed him among them
6Now Paul, knowing that one group were Sadducees and the other were Pharisees, exclaimed in the council: "Noble brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is over the hope and resurrection of the dead that I am being judged.7And when he had said this, a dissension occurred between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And the multitude was divided8For the Sadducees claim that there is no resurrection, and neither angels, nor spirits. But the Pharisees confess both of these9Then there occurred a great clamor. And some of the Pharisees, rising up, were fighting, saying: "We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?10And since a great dissension had been made, the tribune, fearing that Paul might be torn apart by them, ordered the soldiers to descend and to seize him from their midst, and to bring him into the fortress11Then, on the following night, the Lord stood near him and said: "Be constant. For just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so also it is necessary for you to testify at Rome.
John
20But I am not praying for them only, but also for those who through their word shall believe in me21So may they all be one. Just as you, Father, are in me, and I am in you, so also may they be one in us: so that the world may believe that you have sent me22And the glory that you have given to me, I have given to them, so that they may be one, just as we also are one23I am in them, and you are in me. So may they be perfected as one. And may the world know that you have sent me and that you have loved them, just as you have also loved me24Father, I will that where I am, those whom you have given to me may also be with me, so that they may see my glory which you have given to me. For you loved me before the founding of the world25Father most just, the world has not known you. But I have known you. And these have known that you sent me26And I have made known your name to them, and I will make it known, so that the love in which you have loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of faith and division, each offering us insights into the nature of belief, unity, and God’s plan. The first reading from Acts describes Paul’s trial before the Sanhedrin, where he cleverly exploits the theological divisions between the Pharisees and Sadducees to create a commotion that ultimately leads to his rescue. Meanwhile, in the Gospel, Jesus prays for the unity of his disciples and all who will come to believe in him through their testimony. These readings, though separated by time and context, share a common thread: the challenge of maintaining unity and fidelity to God’s will in the face of division and uncertainty.
The context of the first reading is deeply political and religious. Paul, a Pharisee by training, stands before a council divided between Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection of the dead, and Sadducees, who did not. By aligning himself with the Pharisees, Paul sparks a heated debate that forces the Roman tribune to intervene, saving him from potential harm. This moment highlights Paul’s cunning and his deep conviction in the resurrection, a central tenet of the Christian faith. For Paul, the hope of resurrection is not just a theological abstraction but the very reason for his missionary work and suffering.
In the Gospel, Jesus’ prayer for unity takes place on the eve of his Passion, as he prepares to leave his disciples behind. He asks the Father that his followers may be one, just as he and the Father are one. This unity is not merely for the sake of harmony but so that the world may believe in Jesus as the one sent by the Father. Jesus’ prayer is a profound expression of his desire for his disciples to share in the divine life of love and unity that exists between the Father and the Son. It is a call to transcend the divisions and conflicts that inevitably arise in this world.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives and the ways we navigate division and seek unity. Like Paul, we may find ourselves in situations where we must stand firm in our beliefs, even when it leads to conflict. Yet, like Jesus, we are called to be instruments of unity, living in such a way that others may come to know God’s love through us. In a world often torn apart by differences, these readings remind us that our ultimate hope is in the resurrection and that our unity as believers is a testament to God’s presence in the world. May we strive to live with the courage of Paul and the prayerful heart of Jesus, trusting that God’s will for unity and love will ultimately prevail.