Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 6, 2023

First Reading: 2 Timothy 4.1-5

¹I testify before God, and before Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead through his return and his kingdom²that you should preach the word urgently, in season and out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke, with all patience and doctrine³For there shall be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine, but instead, according to their own desires, they will gather to themselves teachers, with itching ears⁴and certainly, they will turn their hearing away from the truth, and they will be turned toward fables⁵But as for you, truly, be vigilant, laboring in all things. Do the work of an Evangelist, fulfilling your ministry. Show self-restraint

Psalm 96

Psalms

Chapter 96

¹A Canticle of David himself, when the house was built after the captivity. Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing to the Lord, all the earth²Sing to the Lord and bless his name. Announce his salvation from day to day³Announce his glory among the Gentiles, his miracles among all peoples⁴For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised. He is terrible, beyond all gods⁵For all the gods of the Gentiles are demons, but the Lord made the heavens⁶Confession and beauty are in his sight. Sanctity and magnificence are in his sanctuary⁷Bring to the Lord, you natives of the nations, bring to the Lord glory and honor⁸Bring to the Lord glory for his name. Lift up sacrifices, and enter into his courts⁹Adore the Lord in his holy court. Let the entire earth be shaken before his face¹⁰Say among the Gentiles: The Lord has reigned. For he has even corrected the whole world, which will not be shaken. He will judge the peoples with fairness¹¹Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth exult; let the sea and all its fullness be moved¹²The fields and all the things that are in them will be glad. Then all the trees of the forest will rejoic¹³before the face of the Lord: for he arrives. For he arrives to judge the earth. He will judge the whole world with fairness and the peoples with his truth

Gospel: John 10.11-16

John

Chapter 10

¹¹I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd gives his life for his sheep¹²But the hired hand, and whoever is not a shepherd, to whom the sheep do not belong, he sees the wolf approaching, and he departs from the sheep and flees. And the wolf ravages and scatters the sheep¹³And the hired hand flees, because he is a hired hand and there is no concern for the sheep within him¹⁴I am the good Shepherd, and I know my own, and my own know me¹⁵just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for my sheep¹⁶And I have other sheep that are not of this fold, and I must lead them. They shall hear my voice, and there shall be one sheepfold and one shepherd

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages about dedication and care. The first reading from 2 Timothy urges us to be urgent in preaching the Word and steadfast in our ministry, despite the challenges we may face. It reminds us that there will be times when the truth is unwelcome, but our commitment to sharing it must remain unwavering. The second reading from John presents Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who selflessly lays down His life for His sheep, embodying the ultimate act of love and dedication. The context of these readings is rooted in the early Christian community. Paul’s letter to Timothy serves as a call to perseverance, encouraging Timothy to remain faithful in his missionary work amidst adversity. In John’s Gospel, Jesus uses the shepherd metaphor to illustrate His deep care and responsibility for His followers, distinguishing Himself from those who might abandon their flock in times of danger. Together, these readings highlight the importance of steadfastness and self-sacrifice. These passages invite us to reflect on our own commitment to our faith and to others. Just as the Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep, we are called to live out our faith with compassion and dedication. In our daily lives, this means standing firm in our beliefs, caring for those around us, and being willing to make sacrifices for the greater good. Let us strive to follow Jesus’ example, living with the same love and devotion He showed to us.