Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 25, 2021

First Reading: Sirach 35.1-15

¹Whoever observes the law multiplies oblations²It is a salutary sacrifice to attend to the commandments and to withdraw from all iniquity³And to depart from injustice is to offer a propitiatory sacrifice for injustices and a supplication for sins⁴Whoever gives thanks, offers a gift of fine flour, and whoever acts with mercy, offers a sacrifice⁵To withdraw from iniquity is well-pleasing to the Lord. And to withdraw from injustice is a supplication for sins⁶You should not appear empty before the sight of the Lord⁷For all these things are to be done because of the commandment of God⁸The oblation of the just fattens the altar, and is a fragrance of sweetness in the sight of the Most High⁹The sacrifice of the just is acceptable, and the Lord will never forget the memorial of it¹⁰Render glory to God with a good heart. And you should not reduce the first-fruits of your hands¹¹With every gift, have a cheerful countenance, and sanctify your tithes with exultation¹²Give to the Most High according to his gifts to you, and act with a good eye toward the creations of your hands¹³For the Lord gives recompense, and he will repay you seven times as much¹⁴Do not be willing to offer corrupt gifts. For he will not accept them¹⁵And do not be willing to consider an unjust sacrifice. For the Lord is the judge, and with him there is no favoritism toward anyone

Psalm 50

Psalms

Chapter 50

¹A Psalm of Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord has spoken, and he has called the earth, from the rising of the sun even to its setting²from Zion, the brilliance of his beauty³God will arrive manifestly. Our God also will not keep silence. A fire will flare up in his sight, and a mighty tempest will surround him⁴He will call to heaven from above, and to the earth, to discern his people⁵Gather his holy ones to him, you who order his covenant above sacrifices⁶And the heavens will announce his justice. For God is the judge⁷Listen, my people, and I will speak. Listen, Israel, and I will testify for you. I am God, your God⁸I will not reprove you for your sacrifices. Moreover, your holocausts are ever in my sight⁹I will not accept calves from your house, nor he-goats from your flocks¹⁰For all the wild beasts of the forest are mine: the cattle on the hills and the oxen¹¹I know all the flying things of the air, and the beauty of the field is with me¹²If I should be hungry, I would not tell you: for the whole world is mine, and all its plentitude¹³Shall I gnaw on the flesh of bulls? Or would I drink the blood of goats¹⁴Offer to God the sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the Most High¹⁵And call upon me in the day of tribulation. I will rescue you, and you will honor me¹⁶But to the sinner, God has said: Why do you discourse on my justices, and take up my covenant through your mouth¹⁷Truly, you have hated discipline, and you have cast my sermons behind you¹⁸If you saw a thief, you ran with him, and you have placed your portion with adulterers¹⁹Your mouth has abounded with malice, and your tongue has concocted deceits²⁰Sitting, you spoke against your brother, and you set up a scandal against your mother’s son²¹These things you have done, and I was silent. You thought, unjustly, that I ought to be like you. But I will reprove you, and I will set myself against your face²²Understand these things, you who forget God; lest at any time, he might quickly take you away, and there would be no one to rescue you²³The sacrifice of praise will honor me. And in that place is the journey by which I will reveal to him the salvation of God

Gospel: Mark 10.28-31

Mark

Chapter 10

²⁸And Peter began to say to him, "Behold, we have left all things and have followed you.²⁹In response, Jesus said: "Amen I say to you, There is no one who has left behind house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or land, for my sake and for the Gospel³⁰who will not receive one hundred times as much, now in this time: houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and land, with persecutions, and in the future age eternal life³¹But many of the first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

Sermon

The first reading from Sirach reminds us that true sacrifice is not just about external rituals but about living a life of integrity and justice. It emphasizes that withdrawing from sin and acting with mercy are the most pleasing offerings we can give to God. The reading encourages us to approach God with gratitude, generosity, and sincerity, for it is in these ways that we honor Him and align our lives with His will. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel shifts our focus to the radical call of discipleship. Peter and the other disciples had left everything to follow Jesus, and in response, Jesus promises that their sacrifice will be abundantly rewarded—not only in this life but also in the age to come. However, He also warns that the first will be last and the last will be first, challenging our notions of status, reward, and true greatness. Both readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in practical ways. Sirach calls us to a life of moral integrity and generosity, while Mark’s Gospel reminds us that following Christ requires sacrifice and humility. Together, they teach us that our relationship with God is not about outward appearances or material offerings but about the condition of our hearts and the way we live out His commandments. The readings encourage us to trust in God’s providence, knowing that our sacrifices and efforts to live justly will bear fruit, even if the rewards are not always immediate or visible. In our daily lives, this means being mindful of how we use our time, talents, and resources. It means choosing to act with justice, mercy, and generosity, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. It also means embracing the challenges of discipleship with faith and trust, knowing that God’s ways are not our ways, and His timing is not our timing. Let us strive to live with hearts that are truly converted, offering ourselves to God in sacrifice and trusting that He will transform us and use us for His greater glory.