Daily Readings - Thu May 26 2022
Acts
1After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.2And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,3and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.4And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.5When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.6And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."7And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.8Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.
John
16"A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me."17So some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and, 'because I am going to the Father'?"18So they were saying, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about."19Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'?20Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter moments of transition and transformation, both in the life of Paul and in the words of Jesus. In Acts, Paul finds himself in Corinth, where he continues his missionary work despite facing rejection from the Jews. He works as a tentmaker, preaches in the synagogue, and eventually turns to the Gentiles, leading many to faith. This shift marks a significant moment in the spread of Christianity, as the Gospel begins to reach beyond the Jewish community. In John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about His impending departure, using the metaphor of a little while to describe the time until they will see Him again. He reassures them that their sorrow will turn into joy, much like a woman in childbirth who forgets her pain once she holds her child.
These readings are deeply connected, as both Paul and Jesus deal with transitions that bring both challenge and hope. Paul’s move to the Gentiles represents a broader inclusion of all people in God’s plan, while Jesus prepares His disciples for the transition of His physical absence and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Both stories remind us that change, though often difficult, is a part of growth and transformation. Just as Paul trusted in God’s plan to reach new people, and just as the disciples would come to understand Jesus’ words after the Resurrection, we too can trust that our struggles and uncertainties are part of a larger purpose.
In our daily lives, we often face moments of transition—times when we must let go of the familiar and step into the unknown. These readings encourage us to embrace such moments with faith and perseverance. Like Paul, we may encounter resistance or setbacks, but we can trust that God is opening new doors. Like the disciples, we may experience sorrow or confusion, but we can hold onto the promise that our sorrow will be turned into joy. Let us remember that every challenge is an opportunity to grow closer to God and to share His love with others. May we, like Paul, be bold in our witness, and may we, like the disciples, trust in the transformative power of God’s plan.