Daily Readings - Fri Jun 02 2017

First Reading - Acts 24.27; 25.13b-21

Acts

Chapter 24

²⁷Then, when two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus. And since Felix wanted to show particular favor to the Jews, he left Paul behind as a prisoner

¹³And when some days had passed, king Agrippa and Bernice descended to Caesarea, to greet Festus¹⁴And since they remained there for many days, Festus spoke to the king about Paul, saying: "A certain man was left behind as a prisoner by Felix¹⁵When I was at Jerusalem, the leaders of the priests and the elders of the Jews came to me about him, asking for condemnation against him¹⁶I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before he who is being accused has been confronted by his accusers and has received the opportunity to defend himself, so as to clear himself of the charges¹⁷Therefore, when they had arrived here, without any delay, on the following day, sitting in the judgment seat, I ordered the man to be brought¹⁸But when the accusers had stood up, they did not present any accusation about him from which I would suspect evil¹⁹Instead, they brought against him certain disputes about their own superstition and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive²⁰Therefore, being in doubt about this kind of question, I asked him if he was willing go to Jerusalem and to be judged there about these things²¹But since Paul was appealing to be kept for a decision before Augustus, I ordered him to be kept, until I might send him to Caesar.

Gospel - John 21.15-19

John

Chapter 21

¹⁵Then, when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs.¹⁶He said to him again: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs.¹⁷He said to him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was very grieved that he had asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" And so he said to him: "Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my sheep¹⁸Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you are older, you will extend your hands, and another shall gird you and lead you where you do not want to go.¹⁹Now he said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, perseverance, and service. The first reading from Acts depicts Paul as a prisoner, caught in a web of political and legal complexities. Despite his confinement, Paul remains steadfast in his faith, embodying the resilience of the early Christian church. His situation highlights the challenges faced by the early Christians as they navigated a world often hostile to their beliefs. Paul's unwavering commitment to his faith, even in the face of uncertainty, serves as a testament to the power of conviction and trust in God's plan. The Gospel reading from John offers a poignant moment of restoration and commission. Jesus appears to Peter after His resurrection, engaging him in a threefold inquiry about his love. Each affirmation by Peter is met with a charge to "feed my lambs" or "feed my sheep," underscoring the connection between love and service. This interaction not only restores Peter, who had previously denied Jesus, but also commissions him to a life of caring for others. Jesus' words to Peter about his future, leading to a sacrificial death, emphasize that true discipleship involves following Him even when the path is difficult. These readings converge on the theme of faith leading to action. Paul's perseverance in the face of adversity and Peter's commission to serve illustrate that our faith is not passive but active. In our daily lives, we are called to embody this faith through love and service. Just as Peter was called to care for others, we too are invited to express our love for God by serving those around us. The moral lesson here is clear: our faith should inspire us to act with compassion and dedication, trusting that God guides us through all circumstances. Let us embrace this call to faith and service, following Jesus' example, even when the journey is challenging.