Daily Readings - Sun May 11 2025

¹⁴Yet truly, they, traveling on from Perga, arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. And upon entering the synagogue on the Sabbath day, they sat down⁴³And when the synagogue had been dismissed, many among the Jews and the new worshipers were following Paul and Barnabas. And they, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God⁴⁴Yet truly, on the following Sabbath, nearly the entire city came together to hear the Word of God⁴⁵Then the Jews, seeing the crowds, were filled with envy, and they, blaspheming, contradicted the things that were being said by Paul⁴⁶Then Paul and Barnabas said firmly: "It was necessary to speak the Word of God first to you. But because you reject it, and so judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles⁴⁷For so has the Lord instructed us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ⁴⁸Then the Gentiles, upon hearing this, were gladdened, and they were glorifying the Word of the Lord. And as many as believed were preordained to eternal life⁴⁹Now the word of the Lord was disseminated throughout the entire region⁵⁰But the Jews incited some devout and honest women, and the leaders of the city. And they stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas. And they drove them away from their parts⁵¹But they, shaking the dust from their feet against them, went on to Iconium⁵²The disciples were likewise filled with gladness and with the Holy Spirit

Revelation

Chapter 7

⁹After these things, I saw a great crowd, which no one could number, from all the nations and tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands¹⁴And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me: "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and have made them white by the blood of the Lamb¹⁵Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and they serve him, day and night, in his temple. And the One who sits upon the throne shall dwell over them¹⁶They shall not hunger, nor shall they thirst, anymore. Neither shall the sun beat down upon them, nor any heat¹⁷For the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will rule over them, and he will lead them to the fountains of the waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

John

Chapter 10

²⁷My sheep hear my voice. And I know them, and they follow me²⁸And I give them eternal life, and they shall not perish, for eternity. And no one shall seize them from my hand²⁹What my Father gave to me is greater than all, and no one is able to seize from the hand of my Father³⁰I and the Father are one.

Sermon

The readings today remind us of the universal call to salvation and the unity that exists among all who follow Christ. In the first reading from Acts, we see Paul and Barnabas preaching to both Jews and Gentiles, facing rejection from some but finding eager listeners among others. This reflects the early Church's struggle to understand that God's message was not limited to one people but was meant for all. The Gentiles, upon hearing the Word, rejoiced and glorified God, showing that the Good News transcends boundaries and cultures. In Revelation, we see the ultimate fulfillment of this vision—a great multitude from every nation, tribe, and language standing before the throne of God, united in worship and clothed in white robes, symbolizing their purification through the blood of the Lamb. This vision gives us hope for the ultimate unity and peace that God promises. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of his sheep hearing his voice and following him, emphasizing the intimate relationship between the shepherd and his flock. He promises eternal life and security, saying that no one can take his sheep out of his hand. This reassurance is tied to the unity of Jesus and the Father, highlighting that our ultimate security and salvation come from being in God's hands. Together, these readings remind us that God's plan is not confined to a select few but is open to all people, and that our unity as believers is rooted in our shared relationship with Christ. As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we might embrace the diversity of God's people and work toward unity in our own lives. Just as Paul and Barnabas persevered despite rejection, we too can remain faithful in sharing the Good News, even when it is challenging. Let us also remember that our ultimate hope is in the eternal life promised by Christ, where every tear will be wiped away, and we will dwell in the presence of God forever. May we strive to be part of that great multitude, worshiping God together in harmony, and may we trust in the Shepherd who guides and protects us on our journey.