Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 27, 2021
First Reading: Sirach 42.15-25
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Psalm 33
1Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.2Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!3Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.4For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.5He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.7He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.8Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.10The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.11The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!13The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man;14from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,15he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.16The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.17The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.18Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,19that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.20Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.21For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.22Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Gospel: Mark 10.46-52
46And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.47And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"48And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"49And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart. Get up; he is calling you."50And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.51And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Rabbi, let me recover my sight."52And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on God’s presence and action in the world. The first reading from Sirach invites us to contemplate the wonders of God’s creation and the wisdom that underlies all of existence. The author marvels at the order of the universe, the depth of God’s knowledge, and the way all things reflect his glory. This text reminds us that creation itself is a revelation of God’s majesty and that his wisdom is woven into every detail of the world. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel shifts our focus to a specific moment of divine intervention: the healing of Bartimaeus, a blind man who cries out to Jesus for mercy. Despite the crowd’s attempts to silence him, Bartimaeus persists in his plea, and his faith is rewarded when Jesus restores his sight.
These readings are connected by their emphasis on the active presence of God in the world. In Sirach, we see God’s power and wisdom in the vastness of creation, while in Mark, we witness God’s personal and transformative touch in the life of an individual. Together, they remind us that God is both the Creator of the universe and the Savior who meets us in our specific needs and struggles. Bartimaeus’s persistence and faith serve as an example for us: like him, we must not be afraid to cry out to God, even when others try to silence us or discourage us.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Do we recognize God’s presence in the world around us? Do we trust in his wisdom and providence? Like Bartimaeus, we are all called to approach God with humility and faith, acknowledging our limitations and inviting him to act in our lives. May we, like the blind man, cast aside our fears and doubts, and leap into the embrace of God’s grace. In doing so, we will find not only healing but also a deeper understanding of his love and a renewed commitment to follow him on the way.