Daily Readings - Mon May 11 2020

⁵And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,⁶They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:⁷And there they preached the gospel.⁸And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:⁹The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,¹⁰Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.¹¹And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.¹²And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.¹³Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.¹⁴Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,¹⁵And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:¹⁶Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.¹⁷Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.¹⁸And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

John

Chapter 14

²¹He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.²²Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?²³Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.²⁴He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.²⁵These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.²⁶But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, humility, and the presence of God in our lives. In the first reading from Acts, Paul and Barnabas face both persecution and adoration as they spread the Gospel. When they heal a lame man, the crowd mistakenly worships them as gods, but Paul and Barnabas quickly correct them, insisting that they are merely human instruments of God’s power. This moment highlights their humility and their commitment to pointing others to the one true God. They remind the crowd that God is the creator of all things and that He has always been present, even when people turn away from Him. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the relationship between love, obedience, and the presence of God. He says that those who love Him will keep His commandments, and in turn, the Father will love them, and Jesus will manifest Himself to them. This promise is not about exclusivity but about intimacy. Jesus is not saying He will hide Himself from the world, but rather that His presence is experienced deeply by those who love Him and live according to His teachings. The Holy Spirit, as Jesus promises, will guide and remind us of all that He has taught us. These readings remind us that faith is not about seeking glory for ourselves but about glorifying God. Like Paul and Barnabas, we are called to humility and to point others to the true source of all good things. Jesus’ words invite us to examine our own relationship with Him: are we living in a way that reflects our love for Him? Do we recognize His presence in our lives, even in the midst of challenges? Let us ask for the grace to remain humble, to trust in God’s providence, and to live in such a way that others may see His love through us.