Daily Readings - Fri May 19 2023
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 reflections on faith, perseverance, and the promise of joy amidst trials. The first reading from Acts 18:9-18 recounts Paul’s missionary journey in Corinth, where he faced intense opposition from the Jews. Despite the challenges, Paul remained steadfast in his mission, teaching the Word of God for over a year and a half. The Lord appeared to him in a vision, reassuring him, “Do not be afraid… I am with you.” This divine encouragement gave Paul the courage to continue his work, even as the Jews brought him before the Roman proconsul Gallio. Gallio’s dismissal of the case and Paul’s eventual departure for Syria remind us that God’s work often prevails, even in the face of adversity.
The Gospel reading from John 16:20-23a complements this theme of perseverance and hope. Jesus tells His disciples that they will experience sorrow and weeping, but this will be transformed into joy. He uses the analogy of a woman in childbirth, who endures pain but forgets it once she holds her newborn in her arms. Similarly, the disciples—and we—will face trials, but our sorrow will be turned into joy when we see Jesus again. This passage reminds us that our struggles are temporary and that eternal joy awaits us if we remain faithful.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to challenges in our own lives. Like Paul, we may face opposition or uncertainty, but we are never alone. God is with us, guiding us and giving us the strength to persevere. Like the disciples, we may experience sorrow, but we can trust in the promise of ultimate joy. Let us embrace these trials as opportunities to deepen our faith, knowing that God’s plan is always at work, even when we cannot see it. May we, like Paul, remain steadfast in our mission and trust in the Lord’s promise to turn our sorrow into joy.