Daily Readings - Tue May 19 2020
Acts
22And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.23And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.27And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.29Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.32And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.33And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.34And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
John
5But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?6But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:9Of sin, because they believe not on me;10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful narratives that illuminate the transformative power of faith and the presence of God in our lives. The first reading from Acts recounts the trials of Paul and Silas, who, despite being beaten and imprisoned, continued to pray and sing hymns. Their unwavering faith not only led to a miraculous earthquake that freed them but also opened the heart of the jailer to the Gospel. This man, on the brink of despair, found salvation through Paul’s words of hope and the grace of baptism.
The Gospel from John presents Jesus preparing His disciples for His departure, promising the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who would guide them in truth and convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. This passage reminds us that our faith is not in isolation but is supported by the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live according to God’s will, even in challenging times.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own trust in God’s plan and our openness to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Like Paul and Silas, we may face trials, but our perseverance and faith can lead to unexpected graces. The jailer’s conversion shows us the transformative power of belief and the boundless mercy of God. Let us, therefore, embrace the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives, trusting that He will lead us to truth and guide us through every challenge. In doing so, we find strength to persevere and share the Good News with others, just as Paul and Silas did.