Daily Readings - Wed May 15 2024
Acts
28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.32And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.33I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.34Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.35I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.36And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.37And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,38Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
John
11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.13And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.14I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.15I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.18As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound moments of leadership and trust in God’s providence. The first reading from Acts 20:28-38 captures Paul’s emotional farewell to the elders of Ephesus. Paul, aware of the challenges they will face in his absence, urges them to be vigilant and to care for the flock entrusted to them. He reminds them that the Church belongs to God and that they have been called to serve it with integrity. Paul’s words are both a warning against false teachings and a testament to his own dedication, as he reflects on his ministry with honesty and humility. The scene ends with a deeply human moment of sorrow and affection, as the community mourns the departure of their beloved leader.
In the Gospel, John 17:11b-19, we hear Jesus’ prayer to the Father, asking for the protection and sanctification of his disciples. Jesus acknowledges that while he is leaving the world, his followers remain in it, and he prays that they may be preserved from evil and united in truth. This prayer is not a plea for their removal from the world but for their sanctification within it. Jesus emphasizes that just as he was sent into the world, so too are his disciples sent, and he sanctifies himself for their sake, so that they may be sanctified in truth. This passage underscores the tension between being in the world but not of it, and the importance of living according to God’s word.
Both readings highlight the themes of trust, responsibility, and the importance of remaining faithful in the face of challenges. Paul’s farewell speech and Jesus’ prayer remind us that we are called to be stewards of God’s work and to trust in his providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. As we reflect on these passages, we are invited to examine our own commitment to the flock entrusted to us—whether that is our families, communities, or the broader Church. Let us strive to be vigilant, to serve with integrity, and to remain rooted in the truth, even as we navigate the complexities of the world around us. May we, like Paul and Jesus, embrace our roles with humility and trust, knowing that God’s grace is always at work to build up and sanctify his people.