ACTS 18:9-18

One night while Paul was in Corinth, the Lord said to him in a vision, "Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you. No one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city." He settled there for a year and a half and taught the word of God among them. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him to the tribunal, saying, "This man is inducing people to worship God contrary to the law." When Paul was about to reply, Gallio spoke to the Jews, "If it were a matter of some crime or malicious fraud, I should with reason hear the complaint of you Jews; but since it is a question of arguments over doctrine and titles and your own law, see to it yourselves. I do not wish to be a judge of such matters." And he drove them away from the tribunal. They all seized Sosthenes, the synagogue official, and beat him in full view of the tribunal. But none of this was of concern to Gallio. Paul remained for quite some time, and after saying farewell to the brothers he sailed for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had shaved his head because he had taken a vow.

JOHN 16:20-23

Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you."

Jesus explains to his disciples the meaning of his “leaving the world and going to the Father.” His disciples, and all of us, will experience a more intimate closeness to him through faith and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. His resurrection inaugurates a time of joy which erases the grief of his death, just as the labor pains of a woman is forgotten with the joy that comes after the birth of her child.

To be a follower of Christ in this world is a most difficult task, a life inseparable from pain and suffering. The language of the world is one of power, pleasure, and wealth, which are the exact opposite of Christ’s values — sacrifice, pain, self-denial — in one word, the cross. It is the cross that opens the gate to everlasting joy.

This can be the subject of our meditation today. Are we being carried away by the values of this world, or have we firmly fixed our sight, at whatever cost of sacrifice and selfless renunciation, on attaining the joy of being with Christ forever? If we feel weak and find it difficult to resist worldly values, let us look not at the sacrifice which is temporal and which will some day end, but at Christ’s perfect joy which can never be taken away. Let us perform our job sincerely and pray for God’s continued blessing and guidance.

View: Prayer Requests

Back to Top

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

Best Viewed with Internet Explorer on 800 x 600 Resolution