Daily Readings - Sat May 20 2017

First Reading - Acts 16.1-10

¹Then he arrived at Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a faithful Jewish woman, his father a Gentile²The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium rendered good testimony to him³Paul wanted this man to travel with him, and taking him, he circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in those places. For they all knew that his father was a Gentile⁴And as they were traveling through the cities, they delivered to them the dogmas to be kept, which were decreed by the Apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem⁵And certainly, the Churches were being strengthened in faith and were increasing in number every day⁶Then, while crossing through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the Word in Asia⁷But when they had arrived in Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them⁸Then, when they had crossed through Mysia, they descended to Troas⁹And a vision in the night was revealed to Paul of a certain man of Macedonia, standing and pleading with him, and saying: "Cross into Macedonia and help us!¹⁰Then, after he saw the vision, immediately we sought to set out for Macedonia, having been assured that God had called us to evangelize to them

Gospel - John 15.18-21

John

Chapter 15

¹⁸If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you¹⁹If you had been of the world, the world would love what is its own. Yet truly, you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world; because of this, the world hates you²⁰Remember my saying that I told you: The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours also²¹But all these things they will do to you because of my name, for they do not know him who sent me

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the journey of faith and the challenges that come with following God’s will. In the first reading from Acts, we see Paul and his companions traveling through various regions, spreading the Gospel. They face obstacles, such as being prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching in certain areas, but they remain faithful and attentive to God’s guidance. The vision of the man from Macedonia calling for help leads them to a new mission field, showing us that God often redirects our paths for greater purposes. This passage reminds us that our plans are not always God’s plans, and true discipleship requires flexibility and trust in divine providence. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the reality of persecution and hatred from the world. He reminds them that they are not of the world, and because of this, the world will hate them. This hatred, however, is not without purpose. Jesus assures them that if they keep His word, they will be strengthened to endure. This teaching applies to us today, as we often face challenges for living according to God’s truth. Jesus is not promising us an easy life but a life of fidelity and courage, knowing that we are not alone in our struggles. These readings are deeply connected. Paul’s missionary journey in Acts shows us what it looks like to live out Jesus’ words in the Gospel. Despite facing opposition and uncertainty, Paul and his companions remain faithful, trusting that God is guiding them. For us, this means that when we face difficulties or feel hated for our beliefs, we can draw strength from the same Spirit that guided Paul. Our faith is not a shield from suffering but a source of hope and perseverance. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s plan, even when the path is unclear, and to remain steadfast in our commitment to Him, no matter the cost.