Daily Readings - Mon May 15 2017
First Reading - Acts 14.5-18
Acts
5And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,6They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:7And there they preached the gospel.8And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:9The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,10Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.11And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.12And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.13Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.14Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,15And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:16Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.17Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.18And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
Gospel - John 14.21-26
John
21He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful lessons about faith, humility, and the nature of God’s love. The first reading from Acts 14 describes Paul and Barnabas’s missionary journey, where they face persecution, heal a lame man, and then must correct the crowd’s misunderstanding of their divine role. The Gospel from John 14 emphasizes Jesus’ teaching on love, obedience, and the promise of the Holy Spirit. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on the essence of faith and our relationship with God.
The context of Acts 14 is set during Paul’s first missionary journey, where he and Barnabas face both miracles and misunderstandings. The crowd’s attempt to worship them as gods highlights the human tendency to confuse divine power with its earthly instruments. Paul and Barnabas, however, remain humble, recognizing that they are merely messengers of God’s love. In John’s Gospel, Jesus explains that love is not merely an emotion but a commitment to keeping His commandments. This love is reciprocal—God loves us, and we respond by loving Him through obedience. Jesus also assures us that the Holy Spirit will guide us in understanding and living out His teachings.
These readings are deeply connected. In Acts, we see the practical expression of faith through missionary work and the challenges it entails. In John, we are given the spiritual foundation for that faith—love, obedience, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Together, they remind us that faith is not just about belief but about living out that belief in humility and service. In our daily lives, we are called to embody this faith. Like Paul and Barnabas, we may face trials, but we must remain steadfast in our commitment to God. Like the disciples, we must love God by keeping His commandments and trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The moral lesson here is clear: true faith leads to humility and service, not glory or recognition. Just as Paul and Barnabas rejected the crowd’s adoration, we too must avoid the temptation to seek praise for our efforts. Instead, we should focus on glorifying God through our actions and living out His love in our daily lives. Let us strive to be faithful servants, trusting in God’s plan and allowing His love to shine through us.