Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter

LECTIONARY
297

FIRST READING

Acts 19:1-8

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all. And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

PSALM

68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab

Response: Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

God arises; his enemies are scattered,
and those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so are they driven;
as wax melts before the fire.

But the just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the LORD.

The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.

GOSPEL

Jn 16:29-33

His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Daily Reflection

On his missionary journey to Ephesus, Paul found disciples of John the Baptist, who had received a baptism of repentance, rejecting their old way of life. However, when they heard of what Paul spoke, they wished to be baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus, with water and the Holy Spirit. This was symbolic not merely of washing away all sin, but also of being reborn in the Spirit… receiving new life! To those who accept such a baptism, there is no promise that life will be easy, and the disciples were the first to realise this.

In the Gospel, today, we hear Jesus prophesy how His followers would all abandon Him in the face of trouble, but He also goes on to encourage them to be steadfast, assuring them of the triumph of good.

Lord, I pray for the courage to be strengthened by Your Spirit each time I am called upon to bear witness to You!