Daily Readings - Sat May 18 2024
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 faithfulness and trust in God’s plan. The first reading from Acts describes Paul’s time under house arrest in Rome, where, despite his confinement, he continues to preach the Gospel with unwavering dedication. The second reading from John’s Gospel shows Jesus gently redirecting Peter’s focus away from the fate of another disciple and back to his own calling. Together, these passages invite us to reflect on the importance of trusting in God’s will and remaining faithful to our own unique mission.
The context of these readings is significant. Paul, despite being a prisoner, uses his circumstances to witness to the power of Christ, while John’s Gospel emphasizes the personal nature of discipleship. Jesus’ words to Peter remind us that our focus should not be on comparing ourselves to others or worrying about their journey, but rather on following Him wholeheartedly. Both readings highlight the importance of remaining faithful, even in challenging or uncertain situations.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to trust in God’s plan and to focus on our own path. Like Paul, we may face obstacles or setbacks, but these do not have to hinder our ability to live out our faith. Like Peter, we may be tempted to look at others and wonder about their role in God’s plan, but Jesus reminds us that our primary concern should be to follow Him faithfully. Let us take inspiration from these examples and strive to live each day with trust in God’s will and a commitment to our own unique calling.