Daily Readings - Thu May 28 2020
Acts
30On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.
6But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.7And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.9And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.10And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.11And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
John
20Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.24Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.25O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.26And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful scenes that invite us to reflect on the nature of unity and division, and how our faith calls us to navigate these realities in our lives. The first reading from Acts describes Paul’s appearance before the Sanhedrin, where he cleverly exploits the theological divisions between the Pharisees and Sadducees to create a stir that ultimately leads to his rescue by Roman soldiers. Meanwhile, in the Gospel, Jesus prays for the unity of his disciples, expressing his deep desire that they may be one, just as he and the Father are one. These two passages, though seemingly different, share a common thread: the challenge of maintaining unity amidst diversity and division.
The context of the first reading is deeply political and religious. Paul, a Pharisee, uses his knowledge of the theological differences between the Pharisees and Sadducees to create a rift in the council, which allows him to escape further persecution. This passage reminds us that even in the face of adversity, God can use our circumstances to protect us and further His plan. The Gospel, on the other hand, takes us into the intimate prayer of Jesus, where He expresses His desire for unity among His followers. This unity is not just for the sake of harmony but is a witness to the world that Jesus was sent by the Father. The love and unity that exist between the Father and the Son are to be mirrored in the lives of His disciples.
These readings challenge us to reflect on how we live out our faith in a world marked by division. Like Paul, we may find ourselves in situations where we must navigate differing opinions and beliefs. Yet, Jesus’ prayer reminds us that our ultimate goal should be unity, not uniformity. This unity is rooted in our shared relationship with God and our commitment to love one another as God has loved us. In our daily lives, this means seeking to understand and appreciate the perspectives of others, even when we disagree. It means working towards reconciliation and harmony, rather than allowing divisions to define us. As we strive to live out this unity, we become a living witness to the love of God, just as Jesus prayed. Let us, therefore, ask for the grace to be instruments of unity in a world so often torn apart by division.