Daily Readings - Tue May 01 2018

First Reading - Acts 14.19-28

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

Gospel - John 14.27-31a

John

Chapter 14

²⁷Peace I leave for you; my Peace I give to you. Not in the way that the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and let it not fear²⁸You have heard that I said to you: I am going away, and I am returning to you. If you loved me, certainly you would be gladdened, because I am going to the Father. For the Father is greater than I²⁹And now I have told you this, before it happens, so that, when it will happen, you may believe³⁰I will not now speak at length with you. For the prince of this world is coming, but he does not have anything in me³¹Yet this is so that the world may know that I love the Father, and that I am acting according to the commandment that the Father has given to me. Rise up, let us go from here.

Sermon

In today's readings, we are reminded of the power of trust and perseverance in the face of adversity. The first reading from Acts recounts Paul's resilience after being stoned, his continued missionary work, and the establishment of churches, highlighting the importance of community and leadership. The Gospel from John captures Jesus' assurance of peace and trust in God's plan, even as challenges loom. Both readings emphasize trust in God amidst trials. Paul's perseverance despite persecution illustrates unwavering faith, while Jesus' words offer comfort, urging us not to be troubled but to trust in His peace. This trust is rooted in obedience to God's will, as Jesus demonstrates by following the Father's commandment. In our daily lives, we face various struggles, but these readings encourage us to find peace in God. Like Paul, we can trust in God's plan and continue our journey with perseverance. Building strong faith communities, as Paul did, supports us in maintaining our faith. Jesus' peace, different from the world's, offers us calm amidst storms, reminding us to trust in God's providence. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's providence and find peace in Him, even in adversity. By building supportive communities and trusting in God's will, we navigate life's challenges with faith and resilience. Let us embrace this trust, finding strength in our communities and peace in God's presence.