Daily Readings - Sun May 17 2020

⁵Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.⁶And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.⁷For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.⁸So there was much joy in that city.¹⁴Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,¹⁵who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,¹⁶for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.¹⁷Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter

Chapter 3

¹⁵but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;¹⁶yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.¹⁷For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.¹⁸For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

John

Chapter 14

¹⁵"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,¹⁷even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.¹⁸"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.¹⁹Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.²⁰In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.²¹Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

Sermon

The readings today remind us of the profound connection between faith, love, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In the first reading from Acts, we see Philip preaching in Samaria, where many believe in Christ and receive healing. When the Apostles in Jerusalem hear of this, they send Peter and John to pray over the new believers, laying hands on them so they might receive the Holy Spirit. This passage highlights the unity of the early Church and the essential role of the Spirit in confirming faith and empowering believers. The second reading from 1 Peter complements this by emphasizing the importance of living a life of virtue and being ready to explain the hope that is in us. Peter encourages us to suffer patiently for doing good, knowing that Christ, the Just One, suffered for our sins to reconcile us to God. This reminds us that our faith is not just a private matter but a way of life that should inspire others and bring them to Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus promises his disciples that he will send the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, who will remain with them forever. He ties this promise to their love for him, saying, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Jesus makes it clear that love is not just a feeling but a commitment to living according to his will. He also assures them that he will manifest himself to those who keep his commandments, promising a deep, abiding union with him and the Father. These readings invite us to reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the importance of living out our faith with love and integrity. Just as the early Church relied on the Spirit to guide and empower them, we too must open ourselves to the Spirit’s presence, allowing him to transform us and inspire us to live as witnesses of Christ’s love. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living in a way that reflects the hope and joy of the Gospel? Are we open to the Spirit’s guidance in our daily lives? May we, like Philip and the early believers, allow the Spirit to work through us, bringing light and life to a world in need.