Daily Readings - Fri May 17 2024

Acts

Chapter 24

²⁷Then, when two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus. And since Felix wanted to show particular favor to the Jews, he left Paul behind as a prisoner

¹³And when some days had passed, king Agrippa and Bernice descended to Caesarea, to greet Festus¹⁴And since they remained there for many days, Festus spoke to the king about Paul, saying: "A certain man was left behind as a prisoner by Felix¹⁵When I was at Jerusalem, the leaders of the priests and the elders of the Jews came to me about him, asking for condemnation against him¹⁶I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before he who is being accused has been confronted by his accusers and has received the opportunity to defend himself, so as to clear himself of the charges¹⁷Therefore, when they had arrived here, without any delay, on the following day, sitting in the judgment seat, I ordered the man to be brought¹⁸But when the accusers had stood up, they did not present any accusation about him from which I would suspect evil¹⁹Instead, they brought against him certain disputes about their own superstition and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive²⁰Therefore, being in doubt about this kind of question, I asked him if he was willing go to Jerusalem and to be judged there about these things²¹But since Paul was appealing to be kept for a decision before Augustus, I ordered him to be kept, until I might send him to Caesar.

John

Chapter 21

¹⁵Then, when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs.¹⁶He said to him again: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs.¹⁷He said to him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was very grieved that he had asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" And so he said to him: "Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my sheep¹⁸Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you are older, you will extend your hands, and another shall gird you and lead you where you do not want to go.¹⁹Now he said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, leadership, and divine providence. The first reading from Acts recounts Paul's imprisonment and his appeal to Caesar, highlighting his unwavering commitment to his mission despite uncertainty. The Gospel from John presents Jesus restoring Peter, charging him with the care of His flock, emphasizing the importance of love and service in leadership. Both readings underscore the theme of trust in God's plan. Paul, though imprisoned, trusts in God's purpose, using his circumstances to further his mission. Peter, humbled by his past failures, is entrusted with a significant responsibility, illustrating that leadership is not about power but about serving with love and humility. These stories remind us that our challenges are part of a larger divine plan, calling us to persevere and trust in God's guidance. In our daily lives, we are invited to embrace our roles with faith and responsibility. Like Peter, we may face setbacks, but through repentance and trust, we can be restored and entrusted with meaningful tasks. Let us strive to lead with compassion and serve others, remembering that our true strength comes from trusting in God's providence. May we, like Paul and Peter, find the courage to follow God's will, even in uncertain times, and may our actions reflect the love and service that Jesus exemplified.