Daily Readings - Thu May 10 2018
Acts
1After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;2And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.3And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.5And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.6And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.7And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.8And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
John
16A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.17Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?18They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.19Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?20Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of transition, trust, and the transformative power of faith. In the first reading from Acts, we see Paul in Corinth, where he works as a tentmaker and preaches the Gospel. Despite facing resistance and eventual rejection by the synagogue leaders, Paul remains steadfast in his mission, turning to the Gentiles with courage and determination. This passage highlights Paul’s resilience and his unwavering commitment to spreading the Word of God, even in the face of adversity. His actions remind us that our faith must be lived out boldly, trusting in God’s plan even when the path ahead is uncertain.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to his disciples about his impending departure, using the phrase “a little while” to describe the time before they will see him again. The disciples are confused and saddened by these words, unable to grasp the deeper meaning. Jesus reassures them, however, that their sorrow will turn to joy. This passage invites us to trust in the promise of eternal life and the ultimate triumph of God’s plan. Just as the disciples would come to understand the meaning of Jesus’ words after his resurrection, we too are called to trust in God’s timing and to find hope in the midst of uncertainty.
These readings challenge us to embrace the transitions and challenges of our own lives with faith and perseverance. Like Paul, we may face setbacks or misunderstandings, but we must remain steadfast in our commitment to living out the Gospel. Like the disciples, we may experience sorrow or confusion, but we are promised that our struggles will ultimately give way to joy. Let us trust in God’s plan, even when the road ahead seems unclear, and let us find strength in the knowledge that our sorrow will be transformed into joy through our relationship with Christ.