Daily Readings - Sat May 28 2022
Acts
23And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.24And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.25This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.27And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:28For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
John
23And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.25These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.26At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:27For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.28I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about the nature of faith, teaching, and prayer. The first reading from Acts describes the missionary journeys of Paul and the emergence of Apollos, a gifted preacher who, despite his eloquence, needed further instruction in the Way of the Lord. Priscilla and Aquila, a couple deeply rooted in their faith, took him aside and enriched his understanding, enabling him to proclaim the Gospel even more effectively. This passage reminds us that faith is a journey of growth, and even the most gifted among us need guidance and deeper formation.
The Gospel reading from John takes us into the intimate conversation between Jesus and His disciples. Jesus speaks of a time when they will no longer need to ask Him for anything, for they will be able to ask the Father directly in His name. He assures them that the Father loves them and that their joy will be complete when they pray with this confidence. This passage invites us to reflect on the depth of our relationship with God. It reminds us that prayer is not just a request for favors but a communion of love, rooted in the knowledge that we are beloved by the Father.
Both readings call us to live our faith with humility and confidence. Like Apollos, we must be open to learning and growing in our understanding of God’s ways. Like the disciples, we are invited to pray with boldness, knowing that the Father’s love for us is boundless. Let us ask ourselves: Am I open to being taught and guided in my faith? Do I approach prayer with the confidence that I am loved and heard? May we, like Apollos, allow others to help us deepen our faith, and may we, like the disciples, pray with the assurance that we are children of a loving Father.