Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

LECTIONARY
292

FIRST READING

Acts 16:22-34

The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

PSALM

138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8

Response: Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple,
and give thanks to your name.

Because of your kindness and your truth,
you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.

Your right hand saves me. The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.

GOSPEL

Jn 16:5-11

But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Daily Reflection

After witnessing some extraordinary events, the jailer who had been guarding the imprisoned disciples is moved to convert. He and his whole family become disciples! He even bathes the wounds of those he had previously held captive. The jailer's willingness to reject his past and accept Jesus is testimony to the Spirit at work.

Jesus tells us emphatically that it is a sin to reject him because he is the way to the Father. Jesus also knows that as long as we live in a world that chooses to turn away from him, it will always be a struggle to go against the crowd. He sends us the Spirit so that the truth is revealed to us: that Jesus is one with the Father, that he came from the Father and that he is truly God. We are reminded of this each time we recite the creed.

Do we profess our faith with conviction?