Daily Readings - Thu Jun 02 2022
Acts
30The next day, since the commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.
6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead."7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.8(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)9There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. "We find nothing wrong with this man," they said. "What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"10The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."
John
20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.25"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of faith and division, each offering us insights into the nature of belief, unity, and God’s plan. The first reading from Acts describes Paul’s trial before the Sanhedrin, where he cleverly exploits the theological divisions between the Pharisees and Sadducees to create a commotion that ultimately leads to his rescue. Meanwhile, in the Gospel, Jesus prays for the unity of his disciples and all who will come to believe in him through their testimony. These readings, though separated by time and context, share a common thread: the challenge of maintaining unity and fidelity to God’s will in the face of division and uncertainty.
The context of the first reading is deeply political and religious. Paul, a Pharisee by training, stands before a council divided between Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection of the dead, and Sadducees, who did not. By aligning himself with the Pharisees, Paul sparks a heated debate that forces the Roman tribune to intervene, saving him from potential harm. This moment highlights Paul’s cunning and his deep conviction in the resurrection, a central tenet of the Christian faith. For Paul, the hope of resurrection is not just a theological abstraction but the very reason for his missionary work and suffering.
In the Gospel, Jesus’ prayer for unity takes place on the eve of his Passion, as he prepares to leave his disciples behind. He asks the Father that his followers may be one, just as he and the Father are one. This unity is not merely for the sake of harmony but so that the world may believe in Jesus as the one sent by the Father. Jesus’ prayer is a profound expression of his desire for his disciples to share in the divine life of love and unity that exists between the Father and the Son. It is a call to transcend the divisions and conflicts that inevitably arise in this world.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives and the ways we navigate division and seek unity. Like Paul, we may find ourselves in situations where we must stand firm in our beliefs, even when it leads to conflict. Yet, like Jesus, we are called to be instruments of unity, living in such a way that others may come to know God’s love through us. In a world often torn apart by differences, these readings remind us that our ultimate hope is in the resurrection and that our unity as believers is a testament to God’s presence in the world. May we strive to live with the courage of Paul and the prayerful heart of Jesus, trusting that God’s will for unity and love will ultimately prevail.