Daily Readings - Fri May 19 2023
Acts
9Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:10For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.11And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.12And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,13Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.14And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:15But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.16And he drave them from the judgment seat.17Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.18And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
John
20Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.21A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.22And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.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.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on faith, perseverance, and the promise of joy amidst trials. The first reading from Acts 18:9-18 recounts Paul’s missionary journey in Corinth, where he faced intense opposition from the Jews. Despite the challenges, Paul remained steadfast in his mission, teaching the Word of God for over a year and a half. The Lord appeared to him in a vision, reassuring him, “Do not be afraid… I am with you.” This divine encouragement gave Paul the courage to continue his work, even as the Jews brought him before the Roman proconsul Gallio. Gallio’s dismissal of the case and Paul’s eventual departure for Syria remind us that God’s work often prevails, even in the face of adversity.
The Gospel reading from John 16:20-23a complements this theme of perseverance and hope. Jesus tells His disciples that they will experience sorrow and weeping, but this will be transformed into joy. He uses the analogy of a woman in childbirth, who endures pain but forgets it once she holds her newborn in her arms. Similarly, the disciples—and we—will face trials, but our sorrow will be turned into joy when we see Jesus again. This passage reminds us that our struggles are temporary and that eternal joy awaits us if we remain faithful.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to challenges in our own lives. Like Paul, we may face opposition or uncertainty, but we are never alone. God is with us, guiding us and giving us the strength to persevere. Like the disciples, we may experience sorrow, but we can trust in the promise of ultimate joy. Let us embrace these trials as opportunities to deepen our faith, knowing that God’s plan is always at work, even when we cannot see it. May we, like Paul, remain steadfast in our mission and trust in the Lord’s promise to turn our sorrow into joy.