Daily Readings - Sat May 08 2021
Acts
1He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek.2The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.3Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.4As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.5So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.6Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.7When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.8So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.9During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."10After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
John
18"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.20Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.21They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through the missionary travels of Paul and the profound words of Jesus, each offering insights into faith and perseverance. The first reading from Acts 16:1-10 introduces us to Timothy, a young disciple chosen by Paul for his missionary journey. Despite the challenges, including Timothy's circumcision to appease the Jews, Paul's obedience and the Spirit's guidance are evident. This passage highlights the early church's commitment to spreading the Gospel, even in the face of adversity.
The Gospel from John 15:18-21 shifts our focus to Jesus' warning about the world's hatred towards His followers. Jesus explains that this hatred stems from the world's rejection of Him, emphasizing that His disciples are not of the world. He reminds us that just as He faced persecution, so will we, but we are not alone. Jesus' words assure us that the Father's presence and support are always with us, even in times of trial.
These readings intertwine beautifully, illustrating the dual nature of our faith: the call to mission and the promise of divine accompaniment. Paul's journey shows us the practical aspects of following God's will, while Jesus' words in John remind us of the spiritual strength needed to endure. Together, they teach us to embrace our missionary calling with courage, trusting in God's providence. As we face our own challenges, let us draw inspiration from these readings, standing firm in our faith and trusting in God's guidance.