Daily Readings - Thu Jun 02 2022
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 moments of faith and division, each offering us insights into the nature of belief, unity, and God’s plan. The first reading from Acts describes Paul’s trial before the Sanhedrin, where he cleverly exploits the theological divisions between the Pharisees and Sadducees to create a commotion that ultimately leads to his rescue. Meanwhile, in the Gospel, Jesus prays for the unity of his disciples and all who will come to believe in him through their testimony. These readings, though separated by time and context, share a common thread: the challenge of maintaining unity and fidelity to God’s will in the face of division and uncertainty.
The context of the first reading is deeply political and religious. Paul, a Pharisee by training, stands before a council divided between Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection of the dead, and Sadducees, who did not. By aligning himself with the Pharisees, Paul sparks a heated debate that forces the Roman tribune to intervene, saving him from potential harm. This moment highlights Paul’s cunning and his deep conviction in the resurrection, a central tenet of the Christian faith. For Paul, the hope of resurrection is not just a theological abstraction but the very reason for his missionary work and suffering.
In the Gospel, Jesus’ prayer for unity takes place on the eve of his Passion, as he prepares to leave his disciples behind. He asks the Father that his followers may be one, just as he and the Father are one. This unity is not merely for the sake of harmony but so that the world may believe in Jesus as the one sent by the Father. Jesus’ prayer is a profound expression of his desire for his disciples to share in the divine life of love and unity that exists between the Father and the Son. It is a call to transcend the divisions and conflicts that inevitably arise in this world.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives and the ways we navigate division and seek unity. Like Paul, we may find ourselves in situations where we must stand firm in our beliefs, even when it leads to conflict. Yet, like Jesus, we are called to be instruments of unity, living in such a way that others may come to know God’s love through us. In a world often torn apart by differences, these readings remind us that our ultimate hope is in the resurrection and that our unity as believers is a testament to God’s presence in the world. May we strive to live with the courage of Paul and the prayerful heart of Jesus, trusting that God’s will for unity and love will ultimately prevail.