Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 22, 2025
First Reading: Acts 15.7-21
7And after a great contention had taken place, Peter rose up and said to them: "Noble brothers, you know that, in recent days, God has chosen from among us, by my mouth, Gentiles to hear the word of the Gospel and to believe8And God, who knows hearts, offered testimony, by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as to us9And he distinguished nothing between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith10Now therefore, why do you tempt God to impose a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear11But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe in order to be saved, in the same manner also as them.12Then the entire multitude was silent. And they were listening to Barnabas and Paul, describing what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them13And after they had been silent, James responded by saying: "Noble brothers, listen to me14Simon has explained in what manner God first visited, so as to take from the Gentiles a people to his name15And the words of the Prophets are in agreement with this, just as it was written16‘After these things, I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. And I will rebuild its ruins, and I will raise it up17so that the rest of men may seek the Lord, along with all the nations over whom my name has been invoked, says the Lord, who does these things.18To the Lord, his own work has been known from eternity19Because of this, I judge that those who were converted to God from among the Gentiles are not to be disturbed20but instead that we write to them, that they should keep themselves from the defilement of idols, and from fornication, and from whatever has been suffocated, and from blood21For Moses, from ancient times, has had in each city those who preach him in the synagogues, where he is read on every Sabbath.
Psalm 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 15.9-11
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the unity and inclusivity of God’s love, as well as the joy that comes from living in accordance with His will. In the first reading from Acts, we witness a pivotal moment in the early Church: the Council of Jerusalem. The apostles and elders gather to debate whether Gentile converts must adhere to Jewish law in order to be saved. Peter reminds the assembly that God has already shown His acceptance of the Gentiles by pouring out the Holy Spirit upon them, just as He did on the Jews. James then references the prophets to confirm that God’s plan has always included the Gentiles, and the council concludes that they should not impose unnecessary burdens on the new converts. This passage highlights the Church’s early struggle to balance tradition with the expansive nature of God’s grace.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the joy of abiding in His love. He emphasizes that keeping His commandments is not a burden but a way to remain in the love of the Father. Just as Jesus Himself keeps the Father’s commandments and finds joy in doing so, we too can experience this joy when we live in harmony with God’s will. This teaching reminds us that love and obedience are not opposed to freedom but are the very foundation of a life filled with purpose and happiness.
These readings are deeply connected. The Council of Jerusalem shows the practical application of Jesus’ teaching on love and unity. By embracing Gentiles without imposing unnecessary restrictions, the early Church demonstrated that God’s love transcends human divisions. In our own lives, we are called to do the same: to love without conditions and to live in a way that reflects the unity and joy that come from following Christ. Let us ask ourselves today: Are there ways in which we might be excluding others or placing unnecessary burdens on them? How can we, like the early Church, allow God’s love to expand our hearts and minds? By living in accordance with God’s will and embracing His love, we can experience the joy that Jesus promises—a joy that overflows into every aspect of our lives.