Daily Readings - Sat May 09 2020
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 encounter powerful messages of perseverance and divine connection. The first reading from Acts describes Paul and Barnabas's missionary journey, where they face rejection from the Jews but find eager listeners among the Gentiles. Despite persecution, they continue their mission with joy, trusting in God's plan. In the Gospel, Jesus assures His disciples that knowing Him means knowing the Father, emphasizing unity and the continuation of His work through them.
These passages remind us that spreading God's message often comes with challenges. Just as Paul and Barnabas faced rejection but persisted, we too can encounter obstacles in our lives. Yet, like the disciples, we are called to trust in God's presence within us. Jesus's promise that we will do greater works than He did underscores the idea that our actions, guided by faith, can have a profound impact.
In our daily lives, let us embrace this call to perseverance and trust. When faced with adversity, may we find the courage to continue sharing God's love, just as Paul and Barnabas did. Let us remember that our connection to God through Jesus empowers us to overcome any challenge, inspiring us to live with purpose and joy, knowing we are part of a greater divine plan.