Daily Readings - Thu May 16 2024
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 profound moments that invite us to reflect on unity and perseverance. From Acts, we see Paul standing before the Sanhedrin, skillfully navigating the theological tensions between Pharisees and Sadducees. By declaring himself a Pharisee, Paul sparks a division that ultimately leads to his protection. This episode highlights Paul's cunning and resilience in the face of adversity, as well as the divine assurance he receives from Christ, urging him to remain steadfast in his mission.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers a prayer that stands in contrast to the division Paul exploited. Jesus prays for the unity of all believers, that they may be one as He and the Father are one. This prayer is not merely for the disciples present but for all who would come to believe through their testimony. Jesus longs for a unity that reflects the divine love and glory shared between the Father and the Son, a unity that transcends the divisions of this world.
These readings invite us to consider how we navigate the tensions and divisions of our own lives. Like Paul, we may face challenges that require courage and wisdom, but we are called to remain faithful, trusting in God's providence. At the same time, Jesus' prayer reminds us that our ultimate goal is unity, not division. In a world often marked by discord, we are to be instruments of unity, reflecting the love of the Father and the Son. May we strive to live in such a way that the world may believe in the One who sent us, and may we find strength in the knowledge that we are never alone in this mission.