Daily Readings - Thu May 15 2025

¹³And when Paul and those who were with him had sailed from Paphos, they arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. Then John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem¹⁴Yet truly, they, traveling on from Perga, arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. And upon entering the synagogue on the Sabbath day, they sat down¹⁵Then, after the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent to them, saying: "Noble brothers, if there is in you any word of exhortation to the people, speak.¹⁶Then Paul, rising up and motioning for silence with his hand, said: "Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen closely¹⁷The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people, when they were settlers in the land of Egypt. And with an exalted arm, he led them away from there¹⁸And throughout a time of forty years, he endured their behavior in the desert¹⁹And by destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he divided their land among them by lot²⁰after about four hundred and fifty years. And after these things, he gave them judges, even until the prophet Samuel²¹And later on, they petitioned for a king. And God gave them Saul, the son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years²²And having removed him, he raised up for them king David. And offering testimony about him, he said, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, to be a man according to my own heart, who will accomplish all that I will.²³From his offspring, according to the Promise, God has brought Jesus the Savior to Israel²⁴John was preaching, before the face of his advent, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel²⁵Then, when John completed his course, he was saying: ‘I am not the one you consider me to be. For behold, one arrives after me, the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to loosen.

John

Chapter 13

¹⁶Amen, amen, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his Lord, and the apostle is not greater than he who sent him¹⁷If you understand this, you shall be blessed if you will do it¹⁸I am not speaking about all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But this is so that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me shall lift up his heel against me.¹⁹And I tell you this now, before it happens, so that when it has happened, you may believe that I am²⁰Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives anyone whom I send, receives me. And whoever receives me, receives him who sent me.

Sermon

In today's readings, we journey through the missionary work of Paul and the profound teachings of Jesus, each offering insights into leadership, service, and trust. The first reading from Acts 13:13-25 recounts Paul's sermon in the synagogue, where he traces Israel's history and presents Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promise. This passage highlights Paul's role as a leader and preacher, spreading the Gospel beyond the Jewish community. The Gospel from John 13:16-20 captures Jesus teaching his disciples about true leadership through service and humility, while also predicting betrayal, emphasizing trust and divine plan. Both readings intertwine themes of leadership and trust. Paul, as a missionary, embodies servant leadership, while Jesus teaches that true greatness lies in serving others. The prediction of betrayal in the Gospel reminds us that challenges and disappointments are part of the journey, yet trust in God's plan remains steadfast. These themes connect as they both call us to embrace our roles as servants and leaders, trusting in God's providence even amidst adversity. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own leadership and service. Whether in our communities, workplaces, or families, we are called to lead with humility and serve with love. Trusting in God's plan, even when faced with challenges, strengthens our faith. Let us strive to follow Jesus's example, serving others and trusting in His divine plan, ensuring our actions reflect our commitment to Him and His community.