Daily Readings - Tue May 07 2024
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 narratives that illuminate the transformative power of faith and the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives. From the Acts of the Apostles, we witness Paul and Silas’s unwavering faith despite imprisonment. Their prayers and hymns of praise precede a miraculous earthquake that frees them. The jailer, faced with despair, finds salvation through Paul’s guidance, leading to the baptism of him and his family. This story underscores the triumph of faith over adversity and the immediate impact of the Holy Spirit’s presence.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure, promising the Holy Spirit as their Advocate. The Spirit’s role is to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Jesus’s departure, though sorrowful for the disciples, is necessary for the Spirit’s arrival, bringing truth and guidance. This passage highlights the Holy Spirit’s essential role in revealing truth and transforming hearts.
These readings connect through the Holy Spirit’s active presence. In Acts, the Spirit empowers Paul and Silas, leading to conversion. In John, the Spirit is promised to guide and convict. Together, they reveal the Spirit’s mission to bring truth and transformation. In our lives, this means embracing faith, trusting in God’s plan, and remaining open to the Spirit’s guidance. May we live with courage and joy, sharing our faith and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us, bringing light and truth to a world in need.