Daily Readings - Fri May 19 2023
Acts
9Then the Lord said to Paul, through a vision in the night: "Do not be afraid. Instead, speak out and do not be silent10For I am with you. And no one will take hold of you, so as to do you harm. For many of the people in this city are with me.11Then he settled there for a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up with one accord against Paul. And they brought him to the tribunal13saying, "He persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.14Then, when Paul was beginning to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews: "If this were some matter of injustice, or a wicked deed, O noble Jews, I would support you, as is proper15Yet if truly these are questions about a word and names and your law, you should see to it yourselves. I will not be the judge of such things.16And he ordered them from the tribunal17But they, apprehending Sosthenes, a leader of the synagogue, beat him in front of the tribunal. And Gallio showed no concern for these things18Yet truly, Paul, after he had remained for many more days, having said goodbye to the brothers, sailed into Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. Now he had shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had made a vow
John
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 joy21A woman, when she is giving birth, has sorrow, because her hour has arrived. But when she has given birth to the child, then she no longer remembers the difficulties, because of the joy: for a man has been born into the world22Therefore, you also, indeed, have sorrow now. But I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice. And no one will take away your joy from you23And, 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 you
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on faith, perseverance, and the promise of joy amidst trials. The first reading from Acts 18:9-18 recounts Paul’s missionary journey in Corinth, where he faced intense opposition from the Jews. Despite the challenges, Paul remained steadfast in his mission, teaching the Word of God for over a year and a half. The Lord appeared to him in a vision, reassuring him, “Do not be afraid… I am with you.” This divine encouragement gave Paul the courage to continue his work, even as the Jews brought him before the Roman proconsul Gallio. Gallio’s dismissal of the case and Paul’s eventual departure for Syria remind us that God’s work often prevails, even in the face of adversity.
The Gospel reading from John 16:20-23a complements this theme of perseverance and hope. Jesus tells His disciples that they will experience sorrow and weeping, but this will be transformed into joy. He uses the analogy of a woman in childbirth, who endures pain but forgets it once she holds her newborn in her arms. Similarly, the disciples—and we—will face trials, but our sorrow will be turned into joy when we see Jesus again. This passage reminds us that our struggles are temporary and that eternal joy awaits us if we remain faithful.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to challenges in our own lives. Like Paul, we may face opposition or uncertainty, but we are never alone. God is with us, guiding us and giving us the strength to persevere. Like the disciples, we may experience sorrow, but we can trust in the promise of ultimate joy. Let us embrace these trials as opportunities to deepen our faith, knowing that God’s plan is always at work, even when we cannot see it. May we, like Paul, remain steadfast in our mission and trust in the Lord’s promise to turn our sorrow into joy.