Daily Readings - Sat May 27 2023
Acts
16And when we had arrived at Rome, Paul was given permission to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him17And after the third day, he called together the leaders of the Jews. And when they had convened, he said to them: "Noble brothers, I have done nothing against the people, nor against the customs of the fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans18And after they held a hearing about me, they would have released me, because there was no case for death against me19But with the Jews speaking against me, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, though it was not as if I had any kind of accusation against my own nation20And so, because of this, I requested to see you and to speak to you. For it is because of the hope of Israel that I am encircled with this chain.30Then he remained for two whole years in his own rented lodgings. And he received all who went in to him31preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which are from the Lord Jesus Christ, with all faithfulness, without prohibition
John
20Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, the one who also had leaned on his chest at supper and said, "Lord, who is it who shall betray you?21Therefore, when Peter had seen him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, but what about this one?22Jesus said to him: "If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow me.23Therefore, the saying went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, "If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?24This is the same disciple who offers testimony about these things, and who has written these things. And we know that his testimony is true25Now there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if each of these were written down, the world itself, I suppose, would not be able to contain the books that would be written
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful examples of faith and trust in God’s plan. The first reading from Acts describes Paul’s ministry while under house arrest in Rome. Despite his confinement, Paul continues to preach the Gospel with unwavering dedication, welcoming all who come to him and teaching about the kingdom of God. His situation could have been one of despair, but instead, it becomes an opportunity to spread the Good News. The second reading from John’s Gospel shows Peter’s curiosity about the future of another disciple, but Jesus redirects Peter’s focus, saying, “What about him? You follow me.” This exchange emphasizes the importance of trusting in God’s unique plan for each individual.
These readings remind us that our lives are not defined by our circumstances but by our response to God’s call. Paul, though a prisoner, remained faithful and fruitful in his mission. Peter, faced with uncertainty, learns to focus on his own relationship with Jesus rather than comparing himself to others. Both stories highlight the importance of surrendering to God’s will and trusting in His timing, even when the path ahead is unclear.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we allowing God to use us wherever we are, even in challenging situations? Do we trust in His plan for our lives, or do we get distracted by comparing ourselves to others? May we, like Paul, remain faithful and fruitful in our own mission, and may we, like Peter, focus on following Jesus with all our hearts. Let us surrender to God’s will, knowing that He has a unique purpose for each of us.