The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine the aspects of our daily life that need spiritual support to fill the “pot holes” in our road to love and peace.
In the Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul supports believers in Ephesus with introduction to the Holy Spirit.
* [19:1–6] Upon his arrival in Ephesus, Paul discovers other people at the same religious stage as Apollos, though they seem to have considered themselves followers of Christ, not of the Baptist. On the relation between baptism and the reception of the Spirit, see note on Acts 8:16. (ACTS of The Apostles, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 68 is a call to praise God as savior
* [Psalm 68] The Psalm is extremely difficult because the Hebrew text is badly preserved and the ceremony that it describes is uncertain. The translation assumes the Psalm accompanied the early autumn Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth), which included a procession of the tribes (Ps 68:25–28). Israel was being oppressed by a foreign power, perhaps Egypt (Ps 68:31–32)—unless Egypt stands for any oppressor. The Psalm may have been composed from segments of ancient poems, which would explain why the transitions are implied rather than explicitly stated. At any rate, Ps 68:2 is based on Nm 10:35–36, and Ps 68:8–9 are derived from Jgs 5:4–5. The argument develops in nine stanzas (each of three to five poetic lines): 1. confidence that God will destroy Israel’s enemies (Ps 68:2–4); 2. call to praise God as savior (Ps 68:5–7); (Psalms, PSALM 68 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus invites the disciples to share in the passion.
* [16:30] The reference is seemingly to the fact that Jesus could anticipate their question in Jn 16:19. The disciples naively think they have the full understanding that is the climax of “the hour” of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension (Jn 16:25), but the only part of the hour that is at hand for them is their share in the passion (Jn 16:32).
* [16:32] You will be scattered: cf. Mk 14:27 and Mt 26:31, where both cite Zec 13:7 about the sheep being dispersed. (John, GOSPEL OF JOHN | USCCB, n.d.)
Steve Scholer notes that as Jesus so aptly points out in today’s Gospel, we are never alone. No matter how desolate the situation or remote the location, God the Father is with us.
Jesus’s words to the apostles, In the world you will have trouble, still ring true today. As we go about our all-too-hectic lives, we can pause and remember the peace and joy that fill our hearts and souls when we acknowledge that God the Father is our faithful friend. He is always ready to listen, encourage us, and give us the strength to face seemingly overwhelming challenges or difficulties.
During our Daily Examen, let’s pay special attention to God’s loving presence in our lives and reflect on how he is a part of our daily affairs. Let’s also acknowledge the many gifts he has given each of us, which we can use to honor and praise him. Maybe then we can find God in all things. (Scholer, 2026)
Don Schwager quotes “In Christ we have peace,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When [Jesus] says, 'These things have I spoken to you, that in me you might have peace,' he refers not only to what he has just said but also to what he had said all along, either from the time that he first had disciples, or since the supper, when he began this long and wonderful discourse... He declares this to be the object of his whole discourse, that is, that in him they might have peace. And this peace will have no end but is itself the end of every godly action and intention." (excerpt from TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 104.1.15) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 19:1-8 declares that it takes a certain degree of humility to acknowledge that we need more from the Lord. It takes an open heart and a willingness to change to welcome the Spirit in and ask him to reveal more of God’s will, his love, or his wisdom to us.
God sent Paul to these believers to offer them something they were lacking. Do you feel there’s something missing in your relationship with the Lord? Reach out to him in prayer and ask for it. Remember Jesus’ promise: “If you . . . know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Luke 11:13).
“Father, help me to be humble enough to welcome your Spirit today!” (Meditation on Acts 19:1-8, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments, in Acts, Paul is in Ephesus where he meets disciples who only know of the Baptism of Remission of sin of John the Baptist. He tells them of the fullness of Christian Baptism and invites them into the Life of the Spirit. Glossolalia of charismatic groups is a response to an experience so profound that words do not suffice. It presents our need to have a language beyond language. In the continuation of the Last Supper Discourse in the Gospel of John, the disciples find Jesus speaking plainly. In His Revelation, Jesus foretells His Passion as a Love that conquers that part of the world rejects Him and The Father. Friar Jude notes that Jesus is reassuring His followers that His Passion is part of the Father’s plan.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, considers that true prayer begins with a positive “yes,” a surrender to God and Reality. Father Richard advises “neither clinging nor opposing” when it comes to facing distractions in contemplative prayer.
We must listen honestly to ourselves. We must listen to whatever thought or feeling arises long enough to ask, “Why am I thinking this? What is this thought revealing in or about me? Why am I willing to entertain this negative, accusatory, or lustful thought?”
We don’t have to hate or condemn ourselves for a thought or feeling, but we do have to let it yield its wisdom. Then we will realize it is a wounded or needy part of us that creates these unhealthy thoughts. Our true self, our whole self, doesn’t need them, and will not identify with them.
If we can allow our thoughts and feelings to pass through us, neither clinging to them nor opposing them—and without ever expecting perfect success—I promise that we will come to a deeper, wider, and wiser place. Even our inability to fully succeed is, in itself, another wonderful lesson. [3] (Rohr, n.d.)
We invoke the Spirit to enlighten our understanding of the diversity of response to the Love of God as we humbly accept our path and passion in life.
References
ACTS of The Apostles, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved May 18, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/19?1
John, GOSPEL OF JOHN | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved May 18, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/16?29
Meditation on Acts 19:1-8. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 18, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/18/1570052/
Psalms, PSALM 68 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved May 18, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/68?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Forgiving Our Thoughts. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved May 18, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/forgiving-our-thoughts/
Scholer, S. (2026, May 18). Daily Reflection May 18, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved May 18, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-18-2026
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Peace in Overcoming the World. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 18, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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