Daily Readings - Thu May 11 2017
First Reading - Acts 13.13-25
Acts
13And when Paul and those who were with him had sailed from Paphos, they arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. Then John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem14Yet truly, they, traveling on from Perga, arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. And upon entering the synagogue on the Sabbath day, they sat down15Then, after the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent to them, saying: "Noble brothers, if there is in you any word of exhortation to the people, speak.16Then Paul, rising up and motioning for silence with his hand, said: "Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen closely17The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people, when they were settlers in the land of Egypt. And with an exalted arm, he led them away from there18And throughout a time of forty years, he endured their behavior in the desert19And by destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he divided their land among them by lot20after about four hundred and fifty years. And after these things, he gave them judges, even until the prophet Samuel21And later on, they petitioned for a king. And God gave them Saul, the son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years22And having removed him, he raised up for them king David. And offering testimony about him, he said, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, to be a man according to my own heart, who will accomplish all that I will.23From his offspring, according to the Promise, God has brought Jesus the Savior to Israel24John was preaching, before the face of his advent, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel25Then, when John completed his course, he was saying: ‘I am not the one you consider me to be. For behold, one arrives after me, the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to loosen.
Gospel - John 13.16-20
John
16Amen, amen, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his Lord, and the apostle is not greater than he who sent him17If you understand this, you shall be blessed if you will do it18I am not speaking about all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But this is so that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me shall lift up his heel against me.19And I tell you this now, before it happens, so that when it has happened, you may believe that I am20Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives anyone whom I send, receives me. And whoever receives me, receives him who sent me.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to humility, service, and trust in God’s plan. In the first reading from Acts, Paul preaches in the synagogue at Antioch, recounting the history of Israel and highlighting God’s faithfulness. He explains how God chose the Israelites, led them through the wilderness, and ultimately sent Jesus as the Savior. Paul’s words remind us that our faith is rooted in a long history of God’s love and providence. In the Gospel, Jesus humbles himself as a servant, washing the feet of his disciples, and teaches that true greatness comes from serving others. He also warns of betrayal, reminding us that even in the face of rejection, we must remain faithful to our mission.
Both readings emphasize the importance of humility and trust in God’s plan. Paul’s sermon in Acts shows how God’s plan unfolds over time, and how we are part of a larger story. Jesus, in the Gospel, models humility by serving his disciples, showing us that leadership is not about power but about love and sacrifice. These readings are connected by the theme of service and trust. Just as Paul trusted in God’s plan to preach the Gospel, Jesus trusted in his Father’s will, even when it led to suffering.
In our daily lives, we are called to embrace humility and service. Like Paul, we must trust in God’s plan, even when the path is uncertain. Like Jesus, we must be willing to serve others, even when it requires sacrifice. Let us ask ourselves: Am I living a life of humility and service? Am I trusting in God’s plan, even when it challenges me? May these readings inspire us to follow Jesus’ example, to serve others with love, and to trust in God’s providence.