Daily Readings - Tue May 15 2018
Acts
17Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.18And when they came to him, he said to them:"You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.22And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,23except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.24But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.25And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you,27for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
John
1When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,2since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.3And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.4I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.5And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.6"I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.7Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.8For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.9I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.10All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.11And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound expressions of devotion, commitment, and unity. The first reading from Acts 20:17-27 presents St. Paul’s farewell address to the elders of Ephesus. Paul reflects on his ministry with humility and gratitude, acknowledging the challenges he faced, including betrayals and trials. Yet, he remains steadfast in his mission, declaring that he has fulfilled his duty to preach the Gospel without holding back. He entrusts the elders with the care of the Church, reminding them that they are witnesses to his faithfulness. Paul’s words are a testament to his selfless dedication to spreading the Word of God, even in the face of impending suffering.
The Gospel reading from John 17:1-11a shifts our focus to Jesus’ prayer to the Father before His Passion. Jesus asks for glorification so that He may glorify the Father and fulfill His mission to give eternal life to all. He expresses joy in having completed the work entrusted to Him and prays for His disciples, asking that they may be one, just as He and the Father are one. This prayer is a beautiful expression of Jesus’ desire for unity among His followers and His trust in the Father’s plan. It reminds us that our ultimate goal is to know and love God, and to live in harmony with one another as children of God.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own commitment to living out our faith. Like St. Paul, we are called to be faithful stewards of the Gospel, even when the path is difficult. Jesus’ prayer, meanwhile, challenges us to strive for unity in our relationships and to trust in God’s plan for our lives. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living in a way that reflects our commitment to Christ? Are we working to build unity and understanding in our communities? May we draw strength from the examples of Paul and Jesus, and may we, like them, surrender our lives to God’s will, trusting that He will guide us through every trial.