Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 24, 2024

First Reading: James 5.9-12

⁹Brothers, do not complain against one another, so that you may not be judged. Behold, the judge stands before the door¹⁰My brothers, consider the Prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of departing from evil, of labor, and of patience¹¹Consider that we beatify those who have endured. You have heard of the patient suffering of Job. And you have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is merciful and compassionate¹²But before all things, my brothers, do not choose to swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor in any other oath. But let your word ‘Yes’ be yes, and your word ‘No’ be no, so that you may not fall under judgment

Psalm 103

Psalms

Chapter 103

¹To David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and bless his holy name, all that is within me²Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his recompenses³He forgives all your iniquities. He heals all your infirmities⁴He redeems your life from destruction. He crowns you with mercy and compassion⁵He satisfies your desire with good things. Your youth will be renewed like that of the eagle⁶The Lord accomplishes mercies, and his judgment is for all who patiently endure injuries⁷He has made his ways known to Moses, his will to the sons of Israel⁸The Lord is compassionate and merciful, patient and full of mercy⁹He will not be angry forever, and he will not threaten for eternity¹⁰He has not dealt with us according to our sins, and he has not repaid us according to our iniquities¹¹For according to the height of the heavens above the earth, so has he reinforced his mercy toward those who fear him¹²As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our iniquities from us¹³As a father is compassionate to his sons, so has the Lord been compassionate to those who fear him¹⁴For he knows our form. He has called to mind that we are dust¹⁵Man: his days are like hay. Like the flower of the field, so will he flourish¹⁶For the spirit in him will pass away, and it will not remain, and he will know his place no longer¹⁷But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity, and even unto eternity, upon those who fear him. And his justice is with the sons of the sons¹⁸with those who serve his covenant and have been mindful of his commandments by doing them¹⁹The Lord has prepared his throne in heaven, and his kingdom will rule over all²⁰Bless the Lord, all you his Angels: powerful in virtue, doing his word, in order to heed the voice of his discourse²¹Bless the Lord, all his hosts: his ministers who do his will²²Bless the Lord, all his works: in every place of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul

Gospel: Mark 10.1-12

Mark

Chapter 10

¹And rising up, he went from there into the area of Judea beyond the Jordan. And again, the crowd came together before him. And just as he was accustomed to do, again he taught them²And approaching, the Pharisees questioned him, testing him: "Is it lawful for a man to dismiss his wife?³But in response, he said to them, "What did Moses instruct you?⁴And they said, "Moses gave permission to write a bill of divorce and to dismiss her.⁵But Jesus responded by saying: "It was due to the hardness of your heart that he wrote that precept for you⁶But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female⁷Because of this, a man shall leave behind his father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife⁸And these two shall be one in flesh. And so, they are now, not two, but one flesh⁹Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate.¹⁰And again, in the house, his disciples questioned him about the same thing¹¹And he said to them: "Whoever dismisses his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her¹²And if a wife dismisses her husband, and is married to another, she commits adultery.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful teachings on fidelity and perseverance. The first reading from James encourages patience and honesty, while the Gospel from Mark emphasizes the sanctity of marriage. James, addressing a community facing trials, urges believers to endure without complaint, using the prophets and Job as examples of steadfastness. He warns against swearing oaths, advocating for sincerity in speech. This reflects a call to live with integrity, trusting in God's mercy and compassion. In Mark, Jesus teaches on the indissolubility of marriage, countering the Pharisees' questioning. He traces marriage back to God's original design, stressing that union between man and woman is sacred. Jesus extends this to remarriage after divorce, labeling it adultery, thus underscoring commitment and fidelity. Both readings intersect on themes of endurance and fidelity. James focuses on our relationship with God and community, while Mark highlights marital commitment. Together, they call us to mirror God's faithfulness in all relationships, enduring trials with patience and upholding integrity in our commitments. In daily life, this means nurturing relationships with perseverance and honesty. Our words should be truthful, and our commitments steadfast. The moral lesson is clear: embrace fidelity and integrity, reflecting God's faithfulness in all aspects of life. Let us strive to honor these teachings, living as faithful stewards of our relationships and commitments.