Daily Readings - Tue Jun 04 2019
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 moments of reflection and prayer from the New Testament. The first reading, from Acts 20:17-27, captures Paul's heartfelt farewell to the elders of Ephesus. Paul, aware of the impending challenges and trials as he journeys to Jerusalem, reflects on his ministry with humility and integrity. He emphasizes his unwavering commitment to preaching the Gospel, despite the hardships, and entrusts the elders with the responsibility of caring for the flock, acknowledging that he has fulfilled his duty to share God's counsel.
The Gospel reading, John 17:1-11a, presents Jesus in a moment of intimate prayer with the Father. Jesus, on the eve of His Passion, prays for glorification, not for Himself, but to fulfill His mission of revealing the Father's love. He prayed for His disciples, asking that they may be one, just as He and the Father are one. This prayer underscores the unity and love that should characterize the community of believers.
Both readings highlight themes of mission, unity, and trust in God's plan. Paul's courage in the face of trials and Jesus' prayer for unity remind us to stay committed to our faith mission, face challenges with courage, and strive for unity in our communities. The moral lesson here is one of trust in God's plan and the importance of unity among believers, reflecting the divine love and oneness shared between the Father and the Son.