Daily Readings - Sun May 17 2020

⁵Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.⁶When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.⁷With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.⁸So there was great joy in that city.¹⁴When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.¹⁵When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,¹⁶because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.¹⁷Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter

Chapter 3

¹⁵But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,¹⁶keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.¹⁷It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.¹⁸For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

John

Chapter 14

¹⁵"If you love me, you will obey what I command.¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--¹⁷the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.¹⁸I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.¹⁹Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.²⁰On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.²¹Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Sermon

The readings today remind us of the profound connection between faith, love, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In the first reading from Acts, we see Philip preaching in Samaria, where many believe in Christ and receive healing. When the Apostles in Jerusalem hear of this, they send Peter and John to pray over the new believers, laying hands on them so they might receive the Holy Spirit. This passage highlights the unity of the early Church and the essential role of the Spirit in confirming faith and empowering believers. The second reading from 1 Peter complements this by emphasizing the importance of living a life of virtue and being ready to explain the hope that is in us. Peter encourages us to suffer patiently for doing good, knowing that Christ, the Just One, suffered for our sins to reconcile us to God. This reminds us that our faith is not just a private matter but a way of life that should inspire others and bring them to Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus promises his disciples that he will send the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, who will remain with them forever. He ties this promise to their love for him, saying, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Jesus makes it clear that love is not just a feeling but a commitment to living according to his will. He also assures them that he will manifest himself to those who keep his commandments, promising a deep, abiding union with him and the Father. These readings invite us to reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the importance of living out our faith with love and integrity. Just as the early Church relied on the Spirit to guide and empower them, we too must open ourselves to the Spirit’s presence, allowing him to transform us and inspire us to live as witnesses of Christ’s love. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living in a way that reflects the hope and joy of the Gospel? Are we open to the Spirit’s guidance in our daily lives? May we, like Philip and the early believers, allow the Spirit to work through us, bringing light and life to a world in need.