Daily Readings - Fri May 11 2018
Acts
9And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,10for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people."11And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal,13saying, "This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law."14But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint.15But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things."16And he drove them from the tribunal.17And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.18After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.
John
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.21When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.22So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.23In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. The first reading from Acts tells us about St. Paul’s missionary journey in Corinth. Despite facing opposition from the Jews, Paul remains steadfast in his mission, encouraged by a vision from the Lord. The Lord assures him, “Do not be afraid. I am with you, and no one will harm you, for I have many people in this city who are mine.” Paul’s courage and trust in God’s providence allow him to continue teaching and spreading the Word of God, even in the face of persecution. The reading reminds us that our faith is not immune to challenges, but with God’s grace, we can overcome them.
The Gospel from John complements this message of trust and hope. Jesus tells His disciples that they will experience sorrow and weeping, but their sorrow will be transformed into joy. He compares this to a woman in childbirth, who endures pain but forgets it once she holds her newborn in her arms. Jesus promises that the disciples’ sorrow will turn to joy when they see Him again. This passage invites us to reflect on the temporary nature of suffering and the eternal joy that awaits us when we remain faithful to God’s plan. Just as Paul trusted in God’s presence and protection, we too can find strength in knowing that our trials are not without purpose.
These readings encourage us to embrace the ups and downs of life with faith and hope. Like Paul, we may face opposition or uncertainty, but God is always with us, guiding us and giving us the courage to persevere. Like the disciples, we may experience sorrow, but we can trust that it will be transformed into joy if we remain faithful. Let us ask ourselves: Where am I experiencing challenges or sorrow in my life? How can I trust in God’s presence and promises more deeply? May we, like Paul, remain steadfast in our mission and, like the disciples, hold onto the hope of eternal joy.