Daily Readings - Sat Jun 03 2017

First Reading - Acts 28.16-20, 30-31

¹⁶And when we had arrived at Rome, Paul was given permission to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him¹⁷And after the third day, he called together the leaders of the Jews. And when they had convened, he said to them: "Noble brothers, I have done nothing against the people, nor against the customs of the fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans¹⁸And after they held a hearing about me, they would have released me, because there was no case for death against me¹⁹But with the Jews speaking against me, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, though it was not as if I had any kind of accusation against my own nation²⁰And so, because of this, I requested to see you and to speak to you. For it is because of the hope of Israel that I am encircled with this chain.³⁰Then he remained for two whole years in his own rented lodgings. And he received all who went in to him³¹preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which are from the Lord Jesus Christ, with all faithfulness, without prohibition

Gospel - John 21.20-25

John

Chapter 21

²⁰Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, the one who also had leaned on his chest at supper and said, "Lord, who is it who shall betray you?²¹Therefore, when Peter had seen him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, but what about this one?²²Jesus said to him: "If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow me.²³Therefore, the saying went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, "If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?²⁴This is the same disciple who offers testimony about these things, and who has written these things. And we know that his testimony is true²⁵Now there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if each of these were written down, the world itself, I suppose, would not be able to contain the books that would be written

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that guide us in our walk with God. The first reading from Acts describes Paul's time under house arrest in Rome. Despite his confinement, Paul continues to preach the Gospel, demonstrating unwavering dedication to his faith. He explains to the Jewish leaders that his imprisonment is due to the hope of Israel, yet he remains steadfast in his mission, teaching without hindrance for two years. This shows us that even in adversity, our commitment to spreading God's word should never waver. The Gospel from John presents a different yet complementary lesson. Peter's curiosity about John's fate prompts Jesus to remind him that each person has their own role in God's plan. Jesus tells Peter not to be distracted by others' journeys but to focus on following Him. This teaching emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's unique plan for each of us, avoiding comparisons or distractions, and staying dedicated to our own path. These readings together teach us valuable lessons for our daily lives. Like Paul, we should remain faithful and continue to serve God, even when faced with challenges. Like Peter, we must trust in God's plan and focus on our own journey without being sidetracked by others. Let us embrace these teachings, trusting in God's will, staying focused on our mission, and serving Him with perseverance. May we find strength in His plan and continue to walk faithfully in our own paths.