Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 4, 2021
First Reading: Acts 14.19-28
19Now certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived there. And having persuaded the crowd, they stoned Paul and dragged him outside of the city, thinking him to be dead20But as the disciples were standing around him, he got up and entered the city. And the next day, he set out with Barnabas for Derbe21And when they had evangelized that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch22strengthening the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them that they should remain always in the faith, and that it is necessary for us to enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations23And when they had established priests for them in each church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they believed24And traveling by way of Pisidia, they arrived in Pamphylia25And having spoken the word of the Lord in Perga, they went down into Attalia26And from there, they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had now accomplished27And when they had arrived and had gathered together the church, they related what great things God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles28And they remained for no small amount of time with the disciples
Psalm 145
1The Praise of David himself. I will extol you, O God, my king. And I will bless your name, in this time and forever and ever2Throughout every single day, I will bless you. And I will praise your name, in this time and forever and ever3The Lord is great and exceedingly praiseworthy. And there is no end to his greatness4Generation after generation will praise your works, and they will declare your power5They will tell of the magnificent glory of your sanctity. And they will discourse of your wonders6And they will talk about the virtue of your terrible acts. And they will describe your greatness7They will shout about the memory of your abundant sweetness. And they will exult in your justice8The Lord is compassionate and merciful, patient and full of mercy9The Lord is sweet to all things, and his compassion is upon all his works10O Lord, may all your works confess to you, and let your holy ones bless you11They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and they will declare your power12so as to make known to the sons of men your power and the glory of your magnificent kingdom13Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion is with all, from generation to generation. The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works14The Lord lifts up all who have fallen down, and he sets upright all who have been thrown down15O Lord, all eyes hope in you, and you provide their food in due time16You open your hand, and you fill every kind of animal with a blessing17The Lord is just in all his ways and holy in all his works18The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth19He will do the will of those who fear him, and he will heed their supplication and accomplish their salvation20The Lord watches over all who love him. And he will destroy all sinners21My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and may all flesh bless his holy name, in this time and forever and ever
Gospel: John 14.27-31a
27Peace I leave for you; my Peace I give to you. Not in the way that the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and let it not fear28You have heard that I said to you: I am going away, and I am returning to you. If you loved me, certainly you would be gladdened, because I am going to the Father. For the Father is greater than I29And now I have told you this, before it happens, so that, when it will happen, you may believe30I will not now speak at length with you. For the prince of this world is coming, but he does not have anything in me31Yet this is so that the world may know that I love the Father, and that I am acting according to the commandment that the Father has given to me. Rise up, let us go from here.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on faith, perseverance, and the peace that comes from trusting in God. The first reading from Acts recounts the trials of Paul and Barnabas as they spread the Gospel. Despite being stoned and left for dead, Paul rises again to continue his mission, strengthening the disciples and establishing communities of faith. This passage reminds us that the journey of following Christ is not without its challenges, but it is through these trials that we grow in faith and deepen our commitment to the Lord. The second reading from John’s Gospel offers a message of peace and trust. Jesus reassures his disciples that though he must leave them, he leaves them with a peace that the world cannot give. He encourages them to trust in his love and to remain faithful, knowing that he is always with them.
These readings are deeply connected in their themes of trust, perseverance, and the transformative power of faith. Paul’s resilience in the face of persecution mirrors Jesus’ own trust in the Father’s will, even as he faced the cross. Both readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to challenges in our own lives. Do we allow fear or doubt to overwhelm us, or do we draw strength from the peace and love that Christ offers? The readings remind us that our faith is not a shield from suffering but a source of strength to endure it with hope and courage.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Where am I being called to trust in God’s plan, even when the path is uncertain? How can I, like Paul, rise above setbacks and continue to serve others with joy and perseverance? And how can I, like the disciples, receive the peace that Christ offers and share it with a world in need? May these readings inspire us to live with greater faith, deeper trust, and a heart open to the will of God. Let us remember that the peace of Christ is not the absence of trials but the presence of God in the midst of them.