Daily Readings - Tue May 16 2017
First Reading - Acts 14.19-28
Acts
19Now certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived there. And having persuaded the crowd, they stoned Paul and dragged him outside of the city, thinking him to be dead20But as the disciples were standing around him, he got up and entered the city. And the next day, he set out with Barnabas for Derbe21And when they had evangelized that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch22strengthening the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them that they should remain always in the faith, and that it is necessary for us to enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations23And when they had established priests for them in each church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they believed24And traveling by way of Pisidia, they arrived in Pamphylia25And having spoken the word of the Lord in Perga, they went down into Attalia26And from there, they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had now accomplished27And when they had arrived and had gathered together the church, they related what great things God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles28And they remained for no small amount of time with the disciples
Sermon
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles recounts the perseverance of St. Paul and Barnabas as they faced intense persecution during their missionary journey. Despite being stoned and left for dead, Paul rose, continued preaching, and strengthened the faith of the early Christian communities. This passage highlights the resilience of the apostles and their unwavering commitment to spreading the Gospel, even in the face of suffering. It also reminds us that the journey of faith is not without its trials, but through them, God’s grace sustains us and leads us to deeper trust in His plan.
The reading invites us to reflect on the cost of discipleship. Just as Paul and Barnabas endured hardships to proclaim the Good News, we too are called to remain faithful in the face of challenges. The early Christians were exhorted to remain steadfast in their faith, knowing that the kingdom of God is entered through many tribulations. This truth is timeless. In our own lives, we may encounter struggles, whether personal, spiritual, or relational. Yet, like the apostles, we are called to trust in God’s providence and to persevere, knowing that our trials are opportunities to grow in holiness and to bear witness to the power of faith.
As we apply this to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Where are we being called to persevere? How can we, like Paul and Barnabas, trust in God’s plan even when the path seems uncertain or difficult? The moral lesson here is clear: faith is not about avoiding suffering but about trusting God in the midst of it. May we, like the early disciples, find strength in prayer, in the sacraments, and in the support of our Christian community. Let us remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that through our trials, God is shaping us and preparing us for the eternal kingdom He has promised.