Daily Readings - Mon May 16 2022

⁵When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them,⁶they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country,⁷and there they continued to preach the gospel.⁸Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked.⁹He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,¹⁰said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he sprang up and began walking.¹¹And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"¹²Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.¹³And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.¹⁴But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,¹⁵"Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.¹⁶In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.¹⁷Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness."¹⁸Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

John

Chapter 14

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."²²Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?"²³Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.²⁴Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.²⁵"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.²⁶But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, humility, and the transformative power of God’s love. In the first reading from Acts, we see Paul and Barnabas facing persecution and fleeing to Lystra, where they encounter a lame man who is healed through Paul’s faith. The crowd, in awe of the miracle, mistakenly worships them as gods. Yet, Paul and Barnabas quickly correct them, insisting that they are mere mortals and pointing the people to the one true God. This passage highlights the missionaries’ humility and their unwavering commitment to spreading the Gospel, even in the face of misunderstanding and danger. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the relationship between love, obedience, and the presence of God. He explains that those who love him will keep his commandments, and in turn, the Father will love them. Jesus also promises that he and the Father will dwell with those who keep his word. This teaching emphasizes that love for God is not just a feeling but is expressed through actions—specifically, through obedience to his teachings. Jesus also hints at the role of the Holy Spirit, who will guide and remind the disciples of all that Jesus has taught them. Together, these readings remind us that our faith is not about seeking glory for ourselves but about humbly pointing others to God. Like Paul and Barnabas, we are called to live with humility and integrity, recognizing that any good we do is a gift from God. At the same time, Jesus’ words in the Gospel challenge us to examine how we express our love for him through our actions. Do we keep his commandments? Do we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in living out our faith? Let us strive to live in such a way that our lives reflect God’s love and truth, and may we always remember that our ultimate dwelling place is with him.