Daily Readings - Fri May 27 2022
Acts
9And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,10for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people."11And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal,13saying, "This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law."14But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint.15But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things."16And he drove them from the tribunal.17And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.18After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.
John
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.21When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.22So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.23In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about trust, perseverance, and the promise of joy amidst suffering. The first reading from Acts 18 describes Paul’s missionary journey in Corinth, where he faced intense opposition from the Jews. Despite the challenges, the Lord assured Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid. I am with you.” This divine encouragement gave Paul the courage to stay in Corinth for over a year, spreading the Word of God. Even when the Jews brought him before the proconsul Gallio, Paul remained steadfast, and Gallio ultimately dismissed the case, recognizing it as a religious matter beyond his jurisdiction. This passage reminds us that our faith is not immune to trials, but God’s presence and providence sustain us through them.
The Gospel reading from John 16 offers a complementary message of hope and transformation. Jesus tells His disciples that while they will experience sorrow and weeping, their grief will ultimately turn into joy. He uses the analogy of a woman in childbirth, who endures pain but forgets it once she holds her newborn. Similarly, the disciples would face the sorrow of Jesus’ departure, but their hearts would rejoice when they saw Him again. Jesus promises that in that day, their joy would be complete, and they would ask for anything in His name with confidence. This passage invites us to trust in the transformative power of God’s love, even when we walk through darkness.
These readings remind us that our Christian journey is not one of constant ease but of faith and perseverance. Like Paul, we may face opposition and uncertainty, but God’s presence is always with us. Like the disciples, we may experience sorrow, but it is not without hope. The key is to trust in God’s plan and to remember that our struggles are temporary, while His promises are eternal. Let us embrace the challenges of our daily lives with courage, knowing that God is with us, and that He will turn our sorrows into joy.