Daily Readings - Thu Jun 02 2022
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 moments of faith and division, each offering us insights into the nature of belief, unity, and God’s plan. The first reading from Acts describes Paul’s trial before the Sanhedrin, where he cleverly exploits the theological divisions between the Pharisees and Sadducees to create a commotion that ultimately leads to his rescue. Meanwhile, in the Gospel, Jesus prays for the unity of his disciples and all who will come to believe in him through their testimony. These readings, though separated by time and context, share a common thread: the challenge of maintaining unity and fidelity to God’s will in the face of division and uncertainty.
The context of the first reading is deeply political and religious. Paul, a Pharisee by training, stands before a council divided between Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection of the dead, and Sadducees, who did not. By aligning himself with the Pharisees, Paul sparks a heated debate that forces the Roman tribune to intervene, saving him from potential harm. This moment highlights Paul’s cunning and his deep conviction in the resurrection, a central tenet of the Christian faith. For Paul, the hope of resurrection is not just a theological abstraction but the very reason for his missionary work and suffering.
In the Gospel, Jesus’ prayer for unity takes place on the eve of his Passion, as he prepares to leave his disciples behind. He asks the Father that his followers may be one, just as he and the Father are one. This unity is not merely for the sake of harmony but so that the world may believe in Jesus as the one sent by the Father. Jesus’ prayer is a profound expression of his desire for his disciples to share in the divine life of love and unity that exists between the Father and the Son. It is a call to transcend the divisions and conflicts that inevitably arise in this world.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives and the ways we navigate division and seek unity. Like Paul, we may find ourselves in situations where we must stand firm in our beliefs, even when it leads to conflict. Yet, like Jesus, we are called to be instruments of unity, living in such a way that others may come to know God’s love through us. In a world often torn apart by differences, these readings remind us that our ultimate hope is in the resurrection and that our unity as believers is a testament to God’s presence in the world. May we strive to live with the courage of Paul and the prayerful heart of Jesus, trusting that God’s will for unity and love will ultimately prevail.