Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 27, 2019
First Reading: Acts 16.11-15
11And sailing from Troas, taking a direct path, we arrived at Samothrace, and on the following day, at Neapolis12and from there to Philippi, which is the preeminent city in the area of Macedonia, a colony. Now we were in this city some days, conferring together13Then, on the Sabbath day, we were walking outside the gate, beside a river, where there seemed to be a prayer gathering. And sitting down, we were speaking with the women who had assembled14And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple in the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened. And the Lord opened her heart to be receptive to what Paul was saying15And when she had been baptized, with her household, she pleaded with us, saying: "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, enter into my house and lodge there." And she convinced us
Psalm 149
1Alleluia. Sing to the Lord a new song. His praise is in the Church of the saints2Let Israel rejoice in him who made them, and let the sons of Zion exult in their king3Let them praise his name in chorus. Let them sing psalms to him with the timbrel and the psaltery4For the Lord is well pleased with his people, and he will exalt the meek unto salvation5The saints will exult in glory. They will rejoice upon their couches6The exultations of God will be in their throat, and two-edged swords will be in their hands7to obtain vindication among the nations, chastisements among the peoples8to bind their kings with shackles and their nobles with manacles of iron9to obtain judgment over them, as it has been written. This is glory for all his saints. Alleluia
Gospel: John 15.26 – 16.4a
1"These things I have spoken to you, so that you would not stumble2They will put you out of the synagogues. But the hour is coming when everyone who puts you to death will consider that he is offering an excellent service to God3And they will do these things to you because they have not known the Father, nor me4But these things I have spoken to you, so that, when the hour for these things will have arrived, you may remember that I told you
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of faith and mission. The first reading from Acts describes Paul’s journey to Philippi, where he meets Lydia, a devout woman whose heart is opened by God to receive the Gospel. This encounter leads to her baptism and the beginning of a thriving Christian community. The Gospel, from John, shifts our focus to Jesus’ promise of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will testify to the truth of Jesus’ mission. Jesus also warns His disciples of the persecution they will face but assures them that the Spirit will guide and strengthen them in their witness.
The context of these readings is deeply rooted in the early Christian experience. In Acts, we see the Church expanding beyond Jerusalem, reaching Gentiles like Lydia, who becomes a symbol of openness to God’s grace. Her hospitality and faith exemplify the kind of community the early Church sought to build. In John’s Gospel, Jesus prepares His disciples for a world that will reject them, but He promises the Holy Spirit as their helper and guide. This promise is not just for the disciples but for all believers, reminding us that we are never alone in living out our faith.
These readings are connected by the theme of witnessing to the truth of God’s love. In Acts, Lydia’s conversion and hospitality bear witness to the transformative power of the Gospel. In John, the Holy Spirit is the ultimate witness to Jesus, enabling believers to endure trials and remain faithful. Together, these readings call us to be open to the Spirit’s guidance, to trust in God’s providence, and to live with courage and hospitality, even in the face of challenges.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we open to the Spirit’s prompting in our lives? Do we trust in God’s plan, even when the path is uncertain? How can we, like Lydia, welcome others into our lives and share the Good News with generosity and joy? May we embrace the Spirit’s gift of courage and truth, and may our lives bear witness to the love of Christ in all we do.