Daily Readings - Wed May 15 2024
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 trust in God’s providence. The first reading from Acts 20:28-38 captures Paul’s emotional farewell to the elders of Ephesus. Paul, aware of the challenges they will face in his absence, urges them to be vigilant and to care for the flock entrusted to them. He reminds them that the Church belongs to God and that they have been called to serve it with integrity. Paul’s words are both a warning against false teachings and a testament to his own dedication, as he reflects on his ministry with honesty and humility. The scene ends with a deeply human moment of sorrow and affection, as the community mourns the departure of their beloved leader.
In the Gospel, John 17:11b-19, we hear Jesus’ prayer to the Father, asking for the protection and sanctification of his disciples. Jesus acknowledges that while he is leaving the world, his followers remain in it, and he prays that they may be preserved from evil and united in truth. This prayer is not a plea for their removal from the world but for their sanctification within it. Jesus emphasizes that just as he was sent into the world, so too are his disciples sent, and he sanctifies himself for their sake, so that they may be sanctified in truth. This passage underscores the tension between being in the world but not of it, and the importance of living according to God’s word.
Both readings highlight the themes of trust, responsibility, and the importance of remaining faithful in the face of challenges. Paul’s farewell speech and Jesus’ prayer remind us that we are called to be stewards of God’s work and to trust in his providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. As we reflect on these passages, we are invited to examine our own commitment to the flock entrusted to us—whether that is our families, communities, or the broader Church. Let us strive to be vigilant, to serve with integrity, and to remain rooted in the truth, even as we navigate the complexities of the world around us. May we, like Paul and Jesus, embrace our roles with humility and trust, knowing that God’s grace is always at work to build up and sanctify his people.