Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 18, 2018
First Reading: Acts 24.27; 25.13b-21
27Then, when two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus. And since Felix wanted to show particular favor to the Jews, he left Paul behind as a prisoner
13And when some days had passed, king Agrippa and Bernice descended to Caesarea, to greet Festus14And since they remained there for many days, Festus spoke to the king about Paul, saying: "A certain man was left behind as a prisoner by Felix15When I was at Jerusalem, the leaders of the priests and the elders of the Jews came to me about him, asking for condemnation against him16I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before he who is being accused has been confronted by his accusers and has received the opportunity to defend himself, so as to clear himself of the charges17Therefore, when they had arrived here, without any delay, on the following day, sitting in the judgment seat, I ordered the man to be brought18But when the accusers had stood up, they did not present any accusation about him from which I would suspect evil19Instead, they brought against him certain disputes about their own superstition and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive20Therefore, being in doubt about this kind of question, I asked him if he was willing go to Jerusalem and to be judged there about these things21But since Paul was appealing to be kept for a decision before Augustus, I ordered him to be kept, until I might send him to Caesar.
Psalm 103
1To David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and bless his holy name, all that is within me2Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his recompenses3He forgives all your iniquities. He heals all your infirmities4He redeems your life from destruction. He crowns you with mercy and compassion5He satisfies your desire with good things. Your youth will be renewed like that of the eagle6The Lord accomplishes mercies, and his judgment is for all who patiently endure injuries7He has made his ways known to Moses, his will to the sons of Israel8The Lord is compassionate and merciful, patient and full of mercy9He will not be angry forever, and he will not threaten for eternity10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, and he has not repaid us according to our iniquities11For according to the height of the heavens above the earth, so has he reinforced his mercy toward those who fear him12As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our iniquities from us13As a father is compassionate to his sons, so has the Lord been compassionate to those who fear him14For he knows our form. He has called to mind that we are dust15Man: his days are like hay. Like the flower of the field, so will he flourish16For the spirit in him will pass away, and it will not remain, and he will know his place no longer17But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity, and even unto eternity, upon those who fear him. And his justice is with the sons of the sons18with those who serve his covenant and have been mindful of his commandments by doing them19The Lord has prepared his throne in heaven, and his kingdom will rule over all20Bless the Lord, all you his Angels: powerful in virtue, doing his word, in order to heed the voice of his discourse21Bless the Lord, all his hosts: his ministers who do his will22Bless the Lord, all his works: in every place of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul
Gospel: John 21.15-19
15Then, when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs.16He said to him again: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs.17He said to him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was very grieved that he had asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" And so he said to him: "Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my sheep18Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you are older, you will extend your hands, and another shall gird you and lead you where you do not want to go.19Now he said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to faith, perseverance, and the transformative power of love. In the first reading from Acts, we see Paul, a prisoner of his faith, standing firm despite the uncertainty of his situation. Festus, the new governor, is perplexed by the charges against Paul, which revolve around religious disputes rather than any real crime. This passage reminds us that living as a follower of Christ can sometimes lead to misunderstandings and challenges, but it also highlights the importance of remaining steadfast in our commitment to the truth.
In the Gospel, Jesus engages Peter in a deeply personal conversation after His resurrection. Three times, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, and each time, Peter affirms his love. Jesus responds by entrusting Peter with the care of His flock, saying, "Feed my sheep." This exchange is not just about Peter; it is about all of us. Jesus is calling us to love Him with a love that is demonstrated through service and care for others. Just as Peter was called to shepherd the early Church, we too are called to tend to the needs of those around us, whether in our families, communities, or workplaces.
These readings challenge us to examine how we live out our faith in daily life. Like Paul, we may face situations where our beliefs are misunderstood or tested. Like Peter, we are called to love deeply and to serve selflessly. The moral lesson here is clear: our faith must be more than words; it must be lived out in action. Let us ask ourselves today: How am I feeding Christ's sheep? How am I living out my love for Him in the midst of life's challenges? May we, like Paul and Peter, embrace the call to follow Christ with courage, perseverance, and love.