Daily Readings - Thu May 28 2020
Acts
30But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.
6Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial."7And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.9Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?"10And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.11The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome."
John
20"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,21that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.22The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,23I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.24Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.25O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.26I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful scenes that invite us to reflect on the nature of unity and division, and how our faith calls us to navigate these realities in our lives. The first reading from Acts describes Paul’s appearance before the Sanhedrin, where he cleverly exploits the theological divisions between the Pharisees and Sadducees to create a stir that ultimately leads to his rescue by Roman soldiers. Meanwhile, in the Gospel, Jesus prays for the unity of his disciples, expressing his deep desire that they may be one, just as he and the Father are one. These two passages, though seemingly different, share a common thread: the challenge of maintaining unity amidst diversity and division.
The context of the first reading is deeply political and religious. Paul, a Pharisee, uses his knowledge of the theological differences between the Pharisees and Sadducees to create a rift in the council, which allows him to escape further persecution. This passage reminds us that even in the face of adversity, God can use our circumstances to protect us and further His plan. The Gospel, on the other hand, takes us into the intimate prayer of Jesus, where He expresses His desire for unity among His followers. This unity is not just for the sake of harmony but is a witness to the world that Jesus was sent by the Father. The love and unity that exist between the Father and the Son are to be mirrored in the lives of His disciples.
These readings challenge us to reflect on how we live out our faith in a world marked by division. Like Paul, we may find ourselves in situations where we must navigate differing opinions and beliefs. Yet, Jesus’ prayer reminds us that our ultimate goal should be unity, not uniformity. This unity is rooted in our shared relationship with God and our commitment to love one another as God has loved us. In our daily lives, this means seeking to understand and appreciate the perspectives of others, even when we disagree. It means working towards reconciliation and harmony, rather than allowing divisions to define us. As we strive to live out this unity, we become a living witness to the love of God, just as Jesus prayed. Let us, therefore, ask for the grace to be instruments of unity in a world so often torn apart by division.