Daily Readings - Mon May 29 2017
Acts
1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples2and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."3So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?John's baptism," they replied.4Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus."5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.7There were about twelve men in all.8Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.
John
29Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech.30Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."31"You believe at last!" Jesus answered.32"But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Sermon
Dear friends, in today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments in the early Christian community and the life of Jesus. In the first reading from Acts, Paul meets some disciples in Ephesus who had only received John’s baptism and hadn’t heard of the Holy Spirit. Paul explains that John’s baptism was a call to repentance, preparing the way for Jesus. These disciples then receive baptism in Jesus’ name, and through Paul’s laying on of hands, they experience the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and prophesying. This event highlights the transition from the preparatory baptism of John to the fullness of Christian baptism in the Holy Spirit.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about their growing faith. They acknowledge that He speaks plainly and that they believe He comes from God. Jesus affirms their faith but also warns them about the challenges ahead. He tells them that they will be scattered, but He won’t be alone because the Father is with Him. Jesus offers these words so that they, and we, may have peace in Him and confidence that He has overcome the world.
These readings remind us of the essential role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Just as those disciples in Ephesus needed to move beyond John’s baptism to receive the fullness of the Spirit, we too are called to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. In a world filled with challenges, Jesus assures us of His peace and victory. Let us trust in His power, knowing that through the Spirit, we can overcome any difficulty. May we, like those early disciples, be bold in our faith and open to the gifts of the Spirit, living each day with the confidence that Jesus has indeed overcome the world.