Daily Readings - Sat May 18 2019
Acts
44And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.47For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.48And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.49And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.50But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.51But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.52And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
John
7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through the early Christian Church's expansion and delve into the profound relationship between Jesus and the Father. The first reading from Acts describes Paul and Barnabas's missionary efforts, where they face rejection from the Jews but find eager acceptance among the Gentiles. Despite persecution, they persist, spreading the Word to Iconium. This narrative highlights the resilience of the early Church in the face of adversity.
The Gospel from John shifts focus to Jesus's intimate conversation with His disciples, where He reveals His unity with the Father. Jesus assures them that knowing Him is knowing the Father, and He promises that believers will perform even greater works through faith. This passage underscores the empowerment believers receive through their relationship with Christ.
These readings intertwine the mission of spreading God's message with the assurance of divine support. Like Paul and Barnabas, we may encounter resistance, but Jesus's promise in John reminds us of the strength we derive from our faith. In our daily lives, we are called to persevere in sharing the Gospel, trusting in God's presence and the power of prayer. Let us embrace this mission with courage, knowing that through faith, we can overcome challenges and continue Christ's work.