Daily Readings - Fri May 11 2018
Acts
9Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:10For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.11And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.12And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,13Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.14And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:15But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.16And he drave them from the judgment seat.17Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.18And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
John
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.21A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.22And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.23And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. The first reading from Acts tells us about St. Paul’s missionary journey in Corinth. Despite facing opposition from the Jews, Paul remains steadfast in his mission, encouraged by a vision from the Lord. The Lord assures him, “Do not be afraid. I am with you, and no one will harm you, for I have many people in this city who are mine.” Paul’s courage and trust in God’s providence allow him to continue teaching and spreading the Word of God, even in the face of persecution. The reading reminds us that our faith is not immune to challenges, but with God’s grace, we can overcome them.
The Gospel from John complements this message of trust and hope. Jesus tells His disciples that they will experience sorrow and weeping, but their sorrow will be transformed into joy. He compares this to a woman in childbirth, who endures pain but forgets it once she holds her newborn in her arms. Jesus promises that the disciples’ sorrow will turn to joy when they see Him again. This passage invites us to reflect on the temporary nature of suffering and the eternal joy that awaits us when we remain faithful to God’s plan. Just as Paul trusted in God’s presence and protection, we too can find strength in knowing that our trials are not without purpose.
These readings encourage us to embrace the ups and downs of life with faith and hope. Like Paul, we may face opposition or uncertainty, but God is always with us, guiding us and giving us the courage to persevere. Like the disciples, we may experience sorrow, but we can trust that it will be transformed into joy if we remain faithful. Let us ask ourselves: Where am I experiencing challenges or sorrow in my life? How can I trust in God’s presence and promises more deeply? May we, like Paul, remain steadfast in our mission and, like the disciples, hold onto the hope of eternal joy.