Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 2, 2019

First Reading: Acts 5.27-33

²⁷And when they had brought them, they stood them before the council. And the high priest questioned them²⁸and said: "We strongly order you not to teach in this name. For behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you wish to bring the blood of this man upon us.²⁹But Peter and the Apostles responded by saying: "It is necessary to obey God, more so than men³⁰The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a tree³¹It is he whom God has exalted at his right hand as Ruler and Savior, so as to offer repentance and the remission of sins to Israel³²And we are witnesses of these things, with the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who are obedient to him.³³When they had heard these things, they were deeply wounded, and they were planning to put them to death

Psalm 34

Psalms

Chapter 34

¹To David, when he changed his appearance in the sight of Abimelech, and so he dismissed him, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will be ever in my mouth²In the Lord, my soul will be praised. May the meek listen and rejoice³Magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol his name in itself⁴I sought the Lord, and he heeded me, and he carried me away from all my tribulations⁵Approach him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be confounded⁶This poor one cried out, and the Lord heeded him, and he saved him from all his tribulations⁷The Angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear him, and he will rescue them⁸Taste and see that the Lord is sweet. Blessed is the man who hopes in him⁹Fear the Lord, all you his saints. For there is no destitution for those who fear him¹⁰The rich have been needy and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good thing¹¹Come forward, sons. Listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord¹²Which is the man who wills life, who chooses to see good days¹³Prohibit your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit¹⁴Turn away from evil, and do good. Inquire about peace, and pursue it¹⁵The eyes of the Lord are on the just, and his ears are with their prayers¹⁶But the countenance of the Lord is upon those who do evil, to perish the remembrance of them from the earth¹⁷The just cried out, and the Lord heard them, and he freed them from all their tribulations¹⁸The Lord is near to those who are troubled in heart, and he will save the humble in spirit¹⁹Many are the afflictions of the just, but from them all the Lord will free them²⁰The Lord preserves all of their bones, not one of them shall be broken²¹The death of a sinner is very harmful, and those who hate the just will fare badly²²The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants, and none of those who hope in him will fare badly

Gospel: John 3.31-36

John

Chapter 3

³¹He who comes from above, is above everything. He who is from below, is of the earth, and he speaks about the earth. He who comes from heaven is above everything³²And what he has seen and heard, about this he testifies. And no one accepts his testimony³³Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified that God is truthful³⁴For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God. For God does not give the Spirit by measure³⁵The Father loves the Son, and he has given everything into his hand³⁶Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. But whoever is unbelieving toward the Son shall not see life; instead the wrath of God remains upon him.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on our commitment to faith and the divine nature of Jesus Christ. The first reading from Acts 5:27-33 portrays Peter and the apostles standing resolutely before the council, refusing to cease their proclamation of Jesus' teachings. Despite the council's orders to stop, they affirm their allegiance to God, emphasizing that obedience to Him surpasses earthly authority. This scene underscores the apostles' unwavering dedication to their faith amidst persecution. The second reading, from John 3:31-36, shifts our focus to Jesus' discourse on His divine origin. Jesus, who comes from heaven, speaks of the necessity of belief in Him for eternal life. He highlights the consequences of unbelief, warning that those who do not believe will face God's wrath. This passage emphasizes the critical role of faith in Jesus as the path to salvation and eternal life. These readings connect through their themes of obedience to God and the imperative of faith. The apostles in Acts exemplify obedience to God's will, even in the face of adversity, while John's passage underscores the divine authority of Jesus and the salvific power of belief. Together, they remind us that our faith must guide our actions and decisions, even when faced with challenges. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to stand firm in our faith, trusting in God's plan and prioritizing His will over worldly pressures. They call us to reflect on our commitment to Jesus and the consequences of our belief or unbelief. May we, like the apostles, courageously live out our faith, trusting in Jesus' promise of eternal life. Let us embrace the truth of His divine nature and allow it to transform our lives, guiding us toward a deeper relationship with Him.