Daily Readings - Thu May 16 2024
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 profound moments that invite us to reflect on unity and perseverance. From Acts, we see Paul standing before the Sanhedrin, skillfully navigating the theological tensions between Pharisees and Sadducees. By declaring himself a Pharisee, Paul sparks a division that ultimately leads to his protection. This episode highlights Paul's cunning and resilience in the face of adversity, as well as the divine assurance he receives from Christ, urging him to remain steadfast in his mission.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers a prayer that stands in contrast to the division Paul exploited. Jesus prays for the unity of all believers, that they may be one as He and the Father are one. This prayer is not merely for the disciples present but for all who would come to believe through their testimony. Jesus longs for a unity that reflects the divine love and glory shared between the Father and the Son, a unity that transcends the divisions of this world.
These readings invite us to consider how we navigate the tensions and divisions of our own lives. Like Paul, we may face challenges that require courage and wisdom, but we are called to remain faithful, trusting in God's providence. At the same time, Jesus' prayer reminds us that our ultimate goal is unity, not division. In a world often marked by discord, we are to be instruments of unity, reflecting the love of the Father and the Son. May we strive to live in such a way that the world may believe in the One who sent us, and may we find strength in the knowledge that we are never alone in this mission.