Daily Readings - Wed Jun 01 2022
Acts
28Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.29I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;30and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.32And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.33I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.34You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.35In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"36And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.37And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,38being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
John
11And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.12While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.13But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.14I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.15I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.16They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.17Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.18As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.19And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of leadership and devotion. The first reading from Acts 20:28-38 captures Paul's heartfelt farewell to the elders of Ephesus. He entrusts them with the care of the Church, purchased by God's blood, warning them of impending challenges and false teachers. Paul emphasizes his own integrity and the importance of generosity, concluding with an emotional departure. The Gospel, John 17:11b-19, presents Jesus' prayer for His disciples, seeking their protection and unity in God's name. He acknowledges the world's hatred but desires their sanctification in truth, not removal from the world.
Both readings are set in contexts of transition and concern for the community. Paul is leaving Ephesus, knowing he won't return, while Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure. The common theme is the importance of unity and protection. Paul urges vigilance and selflessness, while Jesus prays for unity and sanctification, highlighting the need to remain in the world while being set apart by God's truth.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to embrace unity and trust in God's protection. Just as Paul and Jesus entrusted their communities to God, we too can find strength in prayer and fidelity. We are reminded to live generously and remain faithful, even in challenging times. The moral lesson is clear: our unity in Christ and adherence to His truth are our greatest protections, enabling us to thrive in a world that often opposes our values. Let us strive to embody this unity and trust, living as sanctified beings in a world that needs God's light.