Daily Readings - Tue May 24 2022
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 stories of faith, transformation, and the presence of God in the midst of suffering. The first reading from Acts tells the story of Paul and Silas, who, despite being beaten and imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, prayed and sang hymns to God. Their faith and joy were so evident that even the other prisoners listened. When an earthquake struck, the prison doors opened, and the jailer, fearing the prisoners had escaped, prepared to take his own life. Yet Paul, filled with compassion, assured him that no one had fled. This moment of grace led the jailer to ask, “What must I do to be saved?” and he, along with his household, was baptized. The reading shows how suffering can become an opportunity for witness and how the power of God can transform even the darkest situations.
The Gospel from John complements this narrative by focusing on the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells His disciples that His departure is necessary for the Advocate to come. The Holy Spirit, Jesus explains, will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. This passage reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not just a comforter but also a guide who reveals truth and transforms hearts. Just as the jailer in Acts encountered the power of God through Paul and Silas, we too can experience the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to challenges and how we share the Good News with others. Like Paul and Silas, we are called to remain steadfast in our faith, even in the face of adversity. Their example teaches us that suffering can be a moment of grace, not just for ourselves, but also for those around us. The Gospel reminds us that the Holy Spirit is always at work, opening hearts and minds to the truth of God’s love. Let us ask for the courage to witness to our faith, even in difficult circumstances, and for the grace to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily lives.