Daily Readings - Tue May 23 2023
Acts
17From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.18When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.19I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews.20You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.21I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.22"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.25"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.
John
1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:2"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.6"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.7Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.8For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.9I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.10All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound reflections on mission, unity, and the ultimate purpose of our lives as followers of Christ. The first reading from Acts 20:17-27 presents St. Paul’s heartfelt farewell to the elders of Ephesus. Paul, aware of the trials and sufferings that await him in Jerusalem, humbly reflects on his ministry. He reminds the elders of his unwavering dedication to preaching the Gospel, despite the challenges he faced. Paul’s words are a testament to his selflessness and trust in God’s plan, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. He emphasizes that his life’s work is to complete the mission entrusted to him by the Lord, to testify to the Gospel of God’s grace.
The Gospel reading from John 17:1-11a shifts our focus to Jesus’ prayer to the Father before His Passion. Jesus speaks of glorifying the Father and being glorified in return, not for His own sake but so that He might give eternal life to all those the Father has given Him. Jesus defines eternal life as knowing the one true God and Himself, whom the Father has sent. He prays for His disciples, asking that they may be one, just as He and the Father are one. This prayer is a beautiful expression of the unity and love that exist within the Trinity and are extended to us through Christ.
Both readings remind us that our lives are not our own but are part of a larger plan. Like Paul, we are called to be faithful stewards of the Gospel, trusting in God’s providence even when the road ahead is difficult. Like Jesus, we are called to live in unity and love, reflecting the oneness of the Father and the Son. In our daily lives, this means prioritizing our relationship with God, embracing our mission to share His love with others, and striving to overcome divisions so that we may truly be one in Christ. May we, like Paul, be willing to surrender our lives for the sake of the Gospel, and may we, like Jesus, pray for and work toward the unity of all God’s people.