Daily Readings - Thu May 10 2018
Acts
1After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.2And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,3and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.4And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.5When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.6And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."7And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.8Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.
John
16"A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me."17So some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and, 'because I am going to the Father'?"18So they were saying, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about."19Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'?20Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of transition, trust, and the transformative power of faith. In the first reading from Acts, we see Paul in Corinth, where he works as a tentmaker and preaches the Gospel. Despite facing resistance and eventual rejection by the synagogue leaders, Paul remains steadfast in his mission, turning to the Gentiles with courage and determination. This passage highlights Paul’s resilience and his unwavering commitment to spreading the Word of God, even in the face of adversity. His actions remind us that our faith must be lived out boldly, trusting in God’s plan even when the path ahead is uncertain.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to his disciples about his impending departure, using the phrase “a little while” to describe the time before they will see him again. The disciples are confused and saddened by these words, unable to grasp the deeper meaning. Jesus reassures them, however, that their sorrow will turn to joy. This passage invites us to trust in the promise of eternal life and the ultimate triumph of God’s plan. Just as the disciples would come to understand the meaning of Jesus’ words after his resurrection, we too are called to trust in God’s timing and to find hope in the midst of uncertainty.
These readings challenge us to embrace the transitions and challenges of our own lives with faith and perseverance. Like Paul, we may face setbacks or misunderstandings, but we must remain steadfast in our commitment to living out the Gospel. Like the disciples, we may experience sorrow or confusion, but we are promised that our struggles will ultimately give way to joy. Let us trust in God’s plan, even when the road ahead seems unclear, and let us find strength in the knowledge that our sorrow will be transformed into joy through our relationship with Christ.