Daily Readings - Mon Jun 02 2025
Acts
1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.7And all the men were about twelve.8And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
John
29His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.30Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.31Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?32Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments in the journey of faith. The first reading from Acts 19:1-8 introduces us to Paul meeting disciples in Ephesus who, though baptized by John, had not yet received the Holy Spirit. Paul baptizes them in the name of Jesus, laying hands on them, and they receive the Spirit, manifesting through tongues and prophecy. This passage highlights the transition from John's baptism of repentance to the fullness of Christian baptism, emphasizing the Holy Spirit's empowering role in the early church.
The Gospel, John 16:29-33, shifts our focus to Jesus' farewell discourse. He assures His disciples that despite the impending challenges and scattering, He is never alone, for the Father is with Him. Jesus offers them peace, reassuring them that He has overcome the world. This passage invites us to trust in God's presence and find peace amidst life's trials.
Both readings converge on the theme of the Holy Spirit. In Acts, the Spirit empowers believers, while in John, the Spirit, though not explicitly mentioned, is implied as the source of peace and strength. This duality reminds us that the Holy Spirit is both our empowerer and our comforter. In our daily lives, we face challenges, but we can trust in the Spirit's presence. Just as the Ephesian disciples needed the Spirit, we too may feel incomplete without fully embracing the Spirit's power. Let us seek to live in the Spirit, trusting in God's plan and finding peace in His overcoming power. The moral lesson here is clear: rely on the Holy Spirit for strength and peace, knowing that even in turmoil, we are never alone.