Daily Readings - Thu May 09 2024
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 two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on perseverance, trust in God’s plan, and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from Acts 18 describes Paul’s missionary journey to Corinth, where he faces both opposition and opportunity. Despite being rejected by some, Paul remains steadfast in his mission, and through his efforts, many come to believe in Christ. The Gospel from John 16 presents Jesus comforting his disciples with the promise that their sorrow will turn into joy, even as he prepares to leave them.
These readings are deeply connected. Paul’s experience in Corinth mirrors the disciples’ experience of loss and confusion. Just as Paul trusted in God’s providence despite setbacks, the disciples are called to trust in Jesus’ promise that their sorrow is not permanent. Both narratives remind us that our faith journey is not without challenges, but it is in these moments of uncertainty that we are invited to deepen our trust in God’s plan.
In our daily lives, we often face moments of doubt or rejection, just like Paul and the disciples. Yet, these readings encourage us to persevere, knowing that God’s plan unfolds in ways we may not fully understand. Jesus’ promise that sorrow will turn into joy reminds us to hold onto hope, even in the midst of difficulty. Let us ask ourselves: Where am I being called to trust in God’s timing? How can I share the joy of the Gospel, even when it feels challenging? May we, like Paul, remain steadfast in our mission and, like the disciples, find comfort in the promise that our sorrow will be transformed into eternal joy.