Daily Readings - Thu Jan 25 2018
First Reading - Acts 22.3-16
Acts
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Gospel - Mark 16.15-18
Mark
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of faith and the call to share the Gospel with the world. In the first reading from Acts, we hear Paul’s dramatic conversion story. Once a fierce persecutor of Christians, Paul encounters the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, and his life is forever changed. This encounter not only opens his eyes to the truth but also commissions him to become a witness for Christ. Paul’s story reminds us that God can turn even the most unlikely hearts into instruments of His will. His journey from persecution to proclamation is a testament to the power of divine grace and the universal call to mission.
In the Gospel, Mark records Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples before His ascension. He commands them to “go forth to the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” This Great Commission is not just a task for the first disciples but a mandate for all followers of Christ. The signs that accompany those who believe—such as healing the sick, casting out demons, and speaking new languages—are not ends in themselves but expressions of the transformative power of the Gospel. Jesus’ words remind us that our faith is not meant to be kept to ourselves but shared with the world.
These readings are deeply connected. Paul’s conversion in Acts is a living example of the Great Commission in action. His encounter with Christ leads him to proclaim the Gospel to all, even to those who once considered him an enemy. For us, this means that our own conversions—whether dramatic or gradual—are not just personal experiences but callings to share the Good News with others. In our daily lives, we are invited to embrace the transformative power of Christ and to live as witnesses of His love. Let us ask ourselves: How am I responding to God’s call? Am I allowing His grace to change me, and am I sharing that grace with others? May we, like Paul, be bold in proclaiming the Gospel, trusting that God’s power will work through us to bring light and hope to a world in need.