Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 24, 2023
First Reading: Acts 20.28-38
28Take care of yourselves and of the entire flock, over which the Holy Spirit has stationed you as Bishops to rule the Church of God, which he has purchased by his own blood29I know that after my departure ravenous wolves will enter among you, not sparing the flock30And from among yourselves, men will rise up, speaking perverse things in order to entice disciples after them31Because of this, be vigilant, retaining in memory that throughout three years I did not cease, night and day, with tears, to admonish each and every one of you32And now, I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace. He has the power to build up, and to give an inheritance to all who are sanctified33I have coveted neither silver and gold, nor apparel,34as you yourselves know. For that which was needed by me and by those who are with me, these hands have provided35I have revealed all things to you, because by laboring in this way, it is necessary to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ 36And when he had said these things, kneeling down, he prayed with all of them37Then a great weeping occurred among them all. And, falling upon the neck of Paul, they kissed him38being grieved most of all over the word which he had said, that they would never see his face again. And they brought him to the ship
Psalm 68
1Unto the end. A Canticle Psalm of David himself. May God rise up, and may his enemies be scattered, and may those who hate him flee from before his face2Just as smoke vanishes, so may they vanish. Just as wax flows away before the face of fire, so may sinners pass away before the face of God3And so, let the just feast, and let them exult in the sight of God and be delighted in gladness4Sing to God, sing a psalm to his name. Make a path for him, who ascends over the west. The Lord is his name. Exult in his sight; they will be stirred up before his face5the father of orphans and the judge of widows. God is in his holy place6It is God who makes men dwell in a house under one custom. He leads out those who are strongly bound, and similarly, those who exasperate, who dwell in sepulchers7O God, when you departed in the sight of your people, when you passed through the desert8the earth was moved, for the heavens rained down before the face of the God of Sinai, before the face of the God of Israel9You will set aside for your inheritance, O God, a willing rain. And though it was weak, truly, you have made it perfect10Your animals will dwell in it. O God, in your sweetness, you have provided for the poor11The Lord will give the word to evangelizers, along with great virtue12The King of virtue is beloved among the beloved. And the beauty of the house will divide spoils13If you take your rest in the midst of the clergy, you will be like a dove whose wings are covered with fine silver and edged with pale gold14When heaven discerns kings to be over her, they will be whitened with the snows of Zalmon15The mountain of God is a fat mountain, a dense mountain, a thick mountain16So then, why are you distrustful of dense mountains? The mountain on which God is well pleased to dwell, even there, the Lord will dwell until the end17The chariot of God is ten thousand fold: thousands rejoice. The Lord is with them in Sinai, in the holy place18You have ascended on high; you have taken captivity captive. You have accepted gifts among men. For even those who do not believe dwell with the Lord God19Blessed is the Lord, day after day. The God of our salvation will make our journey prosper for us20Our God is the God who will bring about our salvation, and our Lord is the Lord who has brought an end to death21So then, truly, God will break the heads of his enemies, the hairy skull of those who wander around in their offenses22The Lord said: I will turn them away from Bashan, I will turn them into the depths of the sea23so that your feet may be soaked in the blood of your enemies, so that the tongue of your dogs may be soaked with the same24O God, they have seen your arrival, the arrival of my God, of my king who is in a holy place25The leaders went ahead, united with the singers of psalms, in the midst of girls playing on timbrels26In the churches, bless the Lord God from the fountains of Israel27In that place, Benjamin is a youth in ecstasy of mind. The leaders of Judah are their governors: the leaders of Zebulun, the leaders of Naphtali28Command by your virtue, O God. Confirm in this place, O God, what you have wrought in us29Before your temple in Jerusalem, kings will offer gifts to you30Rebuke the wild beasts of the reeds, a congregation of bulls with the cows of the people, for they seek to exclude those who have been tested like silver. Scatter the nations that are pleased by wars31Ambassadors will come out of Egypt. Ethiopia will offer in advance her hands to God32Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. Sing psalms to the Lord. Sing psalms to God33He ascends, up to the heaven of the heavens, toward the east. Behold, he will utter his voice, the voice of virtue34Give glory to God beyond Israel. His magnificence and his virtue is in the clouds35God is wonderful in his saints. The God of Israel himself will give virtue and strength to his people. Blessed is God
Gospel: John 17.11b-19
11And though I am not in the world, these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Father most holy, preserve them in your name, those whom you have given to me, so that they may be one, even as we are one12While I was with them, I preserved them in your name. I have guarded those whom you have given to me, and not one of them is lost, except the son of perdition, so that the Scripture may be fulfilled13And now I am coming to you. But I am speaking these things in the world, so that they may have the fullness of my joy within themselves14I have given them your word, and the world has hated them. For they are not of the world, just as I, too, am not of the world15I am not praying that you would take them out of the world, but that you would preserve them from evil16They are not of the world, just as I also am not of the world17Sanctify them in truth. Your word is truth18Just as you have sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world19And it is for them that I sanctify myself, so that they, too, may be sanctified in truth
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound moments of farewell and prayer, each offering insights into the nature of spiritual leadership and community. The first reading from Acts 20:28-38 captures Paul’s poignant farewell to the elders of Ephesus. As he prepares to leave, Paul warns them of impending challenges, both from outside and within, urging vigilance and faithfulness. He emphasizes the importance of selflessness and service, reminding them that true fulfillment comes not from material wealth but from giving. The scene closes with a heartfelt prayer and the elders’ sorrow at his departure, highlighting the deep bonds forged through shared faith.
The Gospel from John 17:11b-19 presents Jesus’ high priestly prayer, where He intercedes for His disciples. Jesus prays for their protection and unity, asking the Father to sanctify them in truth. He acknowledges the challenges they will face in the world but seeks not their removal from it, rather their preservation from evil. This prayer underscores Jesus’ deep concern for His followers’ well-being and their mission to live according to God’s truth in a world often hostile to it.
These readings intertwine themes of protection, unity, and mission. Both Paul and Jesus emphasize the importance of community and vigilance in the face of adversity. Paul’s farewell and Jesus’ prayer remind us that our faith is not solitary but lived within a supportive and watchful community. In our daily lives, we are called to support one another, remain vigilant against spiritual threats, and trust in God’s protective grace. We are to embody selflessness and service, recognizing that our true strength lies in unity and faith.
As we reflect on these passages, we are reminded of the enduring importance of living as a community of faith. We are to be sanctified in truth, living out our mission in the world with courage and integrity. May we, like Paul and Jesus, prioritize the well-being of others, trust in God’s protection, and find fulfillment in giving and serving. In doing so, we embody the moral lesson of these readings: that our faith is a shared journey of love, service, and trust in God’s providence.