Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 17, 2020
First Reading: Acts 8.5-8, 14-17
5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.6And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.7For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.8So there was much joy in that city.14Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,15who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,16for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.17Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 66
1Shout for joy to God, all the earth;2sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!3Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.4All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name." Selah5Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.6He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him,7who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations--let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah8Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard,9who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.10For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.11You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs;12you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.13I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you,14that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.15I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah16Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.17I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue.18If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.19But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.20Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3.15-18
15but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;16yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
Gospel: John 14.15-21
15"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,17even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.18"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.19Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.20In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.21Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the profound connection between faith, love, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In the first reading from Acts, we see Philip preaching in Samaria, where many believe in Christ and receive healing. When the Apostles in Jerusalem hear of this, they send Peter and John to pray over the new believers, laying hands on them so they might receive the Holy Spirit. This passage highlights the unity of the early Church and the essential role of the Spirit in confirming faith and empowering believers.
The second reading from 1 Peter complements this by emphasizing the importance of living a life of virtue and being ready to explain the hope that is in us. Peter encourages us to suffer patiently for doing good, knowing that Christ, the Just One, suffered for our sins to reconcile us to God. This reminds us that our faith is not just a private matter but a way of life that should inspire others and bring them to Christ.
In the Gospel, Jesus promises his disciples that he will send the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, who will remain with them forever. He ties this promise to their love for him, saying, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Jesus makes it clear that love is not just a feeling but a commitment to living according to his will. He also assures them that he will manifest himself to those who keep his commandments, promising a deep, abiding union with him and the Father.
These readings invite us to reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the importance of living out our faith with love and integrity. Just as the early Church relied on the Spirit to guide and empower them, we too must open ourselves to the Spirit’s presence, allowing him to transform us and inspire us to live as witnesses of Christ’s love. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living in a way that reflects the hope and joy of the Gospel? Are we open to the Spirit’s guidance in our daily lives? May we, like Philip and the early believers, allow the Spirit to work through us, bringing light and life to a world in need.