Daily Readings - Mon Apr 30 2018
Acts
5There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.6But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country,7where they continued to preach the good news.8In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.9He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed10and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.11When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!"12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting:15"Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.16In the past, he let all nations go their own way.17Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."18Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
Sermon
In today's reading from Acts 14:5-18, we witness a pivotal moment in the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. They find themselves in Lystra, where they heal a lame man, leading the crowd to mistakenly believe they are gods. Paul and Barnabas quickly correct this misconception, emphasizing their humanity and pointing the people to the one true God.
This event occurs during Paul's first missionary journey, a time when he and Barnabas were spreading the Gospel across Asia Minor. Lystra, a city steeped in polytheistic beliefs, presented a unique challenge. The crowd's swift shift from attempting to stone them to deifying them illustrates the volatile nature of human perception. Paul and Barnabas's immediate correction highlights their commitment to humility and their devotion to God.
In our daily lives, we may face situations where our actions are misunderstood or where credit is misplaced. Like Paul and Barnabas, we must remain humble, ensuring that glory is given to God rather than ourselves. This passage reminds us to boldly share our faith, correcting misconceptions and directing others to the divine. The moral lesson here is clear: in all we do, we must trust in God's providence and remain steadfast in our commitment to His truth, avoiding the temptation of personal glory and instead reflecting His light to the world.