Daily Readings - Sun May 18 2025

²¹When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,²²strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.²³And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.²⁴Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.²⁵And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia,²⁶and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.²⁷And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

Revelation

Chapter 21

¹Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.²And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.⁴He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."⁵And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

John

Chapter 13

¹Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.³¹When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.³²If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.³³Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.'³⁴A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.³⁵By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Sermon

In today’s readings, we journey through themes of perseverance, hope, and love. The first reading from Acts recounts Paul and Barnabas’s missionary journey, where they faced tribulations but remained steadfast, establishing churches and encouraging believers to remain faithful. This highlights the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity, a cornerstone of our faith. The second reading from Revelation offers a vision of a new heaven and earth, where God dwells among His people, bringing an end to suffering. This vision reminds us that our current struggles are temporary and that God’s promise of eternal life with Him is our ultimate hope. In the Gospel, Jesus institutes a new commandment: to love one another as He has loved us. This love is not just a feeling but a choice that reflects our commitment to Him. By living out this love, we become His disciples, recognized by our actions. In our daily lives, let us embrace perseverance, hold onto hope, and choose to love selflessly. May we, like Paul and Barnabas, remain faithful in trials, look forward to God’s promises, and love one another as Jesus loved us, becoming beacons of His love in the world.