Daily Readings - Sat May 24 2025
Acts
1Then he arrived at Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a faithful Jewish woman, his father a Gentile2The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium rendered good testimony to him3Paul wanted this man to travel with him, and taking him, he circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in those places. For they all knew that his father was a Gentile4And as they were traveling through the cities, they delivered to them the dogmas to be kept, which were decreed by the Apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem5And certainly, the Churches were being strengthened in faith and were increasing in number every day6Then, while crossing through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the Word in Asia7But when they had arrived in Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them8Then, when they had crossed through Mysia, they descended to Troas9And a vision in the night was revealed to Paul of a certain man of Macedonia, standing and pleading with him, and saying: "Cross into Macedonia and help us!10Then, after he saw the vision, immediately we sought to set out for Macedonia, having been assured that God had called us to evangelize to them
John
18If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you19If you had been of the world, the world would love what is its own. Yet truly, you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world; because of this, the world hates you20Remember my saying that I told you: The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours also21But all these things they will do to you because of my name, for they do not know him who sent me
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the challenges and opportunities that come with following Christ. In the first reading from Acts, we see Paul and Timothy embarking on their missionary journey, guided by the Holy Spirit. Paul, though a zealous preacher, takes the practical step of circumcising Timothy to make him more acceptable to the Jewish communities they will visit. This shows us that being faithful doesn’t mean being rigid; sometimes, we need to adapt to reach others effectively. The Spirit then leads them to Macedonia, where they are called to preach the Gospel. This passage emphasizes the importance of discernment and trust in God’s plan, even when the path is unclear.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the world’s hatred for those who follow Him. He reminds them that they are not of the world, and because of this, they will face persecution. Yet, He also reassures them that they are not alone; the same Spirit that guided the apostles in Acts will guide them. Jesus’ words are a sobering reminder that living as His disciples will often mean facing opposition, but it is in these moments that our faith is tested and strengthened.
These readings call us to reflect on our own lives. Are we willing to step out in faith, even when the path is uncertain? Are we prepared to face challenges because of our commitment to Christ? The good news is that we are not left alone. Like Paul and Timothy, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us, and like the disciples, we have the promise of God’s presence in the midst of persecution. Let us trust in His plan, remain steadfast in our faith, and remember that our ultimate home is not in this world but in the kingdom of God.