Daily Readings - Fri May 27 2022
Acts
9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."11So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court.13"This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law."14Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you.15But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law--settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things."16So he had them ejected from the court.17Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.18Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken.
John
20I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.21A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.22So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.23In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about trust, perseverance, and the promise of joy amidst suffering. The first reading from Acts 18 describes Paul’s missionary journey in Corinth, where he faced intense opposition from the Jews. Despite the challenges, the Lord assured Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid. I am with you.” This divine encouragement gave Paul the courage to stay in Corinth for over a year, spreading the Word of God. Even when the Jews brought him before the proconsul Gallio, Paul remained steadfast, and Gallio ultimately dismissed the case, recognizing it as a religious matter beyond his jurisdiction. This passage reminds us that our faith is not immune to trials, but God’s presence and providence sustain us through them.
The Gospel reading from John 16 offers a complementary message of hope and transformation. Jesus tells His disciples that while they will experience sorrow and weeping, their grief will ultimately turn into joy. He uses the analogy of a woman in childbirth, who endures pain but forgets it once she holds her newborn. Similarly, the disciples would face the sorrow of Jesus’ departure, but their hearts would rejoice when they saw Him again. Jesus promises that in that day, their joy would be complete, and they would ask for anything in His name with confidence. This passage invites us to trust in the transformative power of God’s love, even when we walk through darkness.
These readings remind us that our Christian journey is not one of constant ease but of faith and perseverance. Like Paul, we may face opposition and uncertainty, but God’s presence is always with us. Like the disciples, we may experience sorrow, but it is not without hope. The key is to trust in God’s plan and to remember that our struggles are temporary, while His promises are eternal. Let us embrace the challenges of our daily lives with courage, knowing that God is with us, and that He will turn our sorrows into joy.