Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 17, 2019
First Reading: Acts 13.26-33
26"Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.27For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.28And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.29And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.30But God raised him from the dead,31and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.32And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,33this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.'
Psalm 2
1Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,3"Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us."4He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.5Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,6"As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill."7I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you.8Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.9You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."10Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Gospel: John 14.1-6
1"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.2In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.4And you know the way to where I am going."5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear Paul addressing the people of Antioch, explaining that Jesus, though rejected by the rulers in Jerusalem, fulfilled the scriptures through his death and resurrection. This message emphasizes that the promise of salvation is not just for the Jews but for everyone. In the Gospel, Jesus reassures his disciples, troubled by his impending departure, by promising to prepare a place for them in heaven. He declares himself as the way, the truth, and the life, the sole path to the Father.
The context of these readings is significant. Paul's sermon in Acts is part of his missionary journeys, targeting both Jews and Gentiles, highlighting the universal nature of the Gospel. In John, the setting is the Farewell Discourse, where Jesus prepares his disciples for his departure, reassuring them of their eternal destiny and his divine role. Together, these passages underscore Jesus as the fulfillment of God's plan, both historically and personally.
Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are reminded to trust in God's providence, especially during uncertain times. Jesus guides us through life's challenges, calling us to be His witnesses. By living with faith and love, we reflect His presence in the world. The moral lesson is clear: place your trust in God, have faith in Jesus as your path to eternal life, and live as a beacon of His love and truth.