Daily Readings - Tue May 24 2022
Acts
22The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten.23After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.24Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose.27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.28But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.
John
5"Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'6Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief.7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful stories of faith, transformation, and the presence of God in the midst of suffering. The first reading from Acts tells the story of Paul and Silas, who, despite being beaten and imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, prayed and sang hymns to God. Their faith and joy were so evident that even the other prisoners listened. When an earthquake struck, the prison doors opened, and the jailer, fearing the prisoners had escaped, prepared to take his own life. Yet Paul, filled with compassion, assured him that no one had fled. This moment of grace led the jailer to ask, “What must I do to be saved?” and he, along with his household, was baptized. The reading shows how suffering can become an opportunity for witness and how the power of God can transform even the darkest situations.
The Gospel from John complements this narrative by focusing on the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells His disciples that His departure is necessary for the Advocate to come. The Holy Spirit, Jesus explains, will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. This passage reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not just a comforter but also a guide who reveals truth and transforms hearts. Just as the jailer in Acts encountered the power of God through Paul and Silas, we too can experience the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to challenges and how we share the Good News with others. Like Paul and Silas, we are called to remain steadfast in our faith, even in the face of adversity. Their example teaches us that suffering can be a moment of grace, not just for ourselves, but also for those around us. The Gospel reminds us that the Holy Spirit is always at work, opening hearts and minds to the truth of God’s love. Let us ask for the courage to witness to our faith, even in difficult circumstances, and for the grace to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily lives.