Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 13, 2022
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 how the events of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection fulfill the promises of the prophets. He emphasizes that the rulers in Jerusalem did not recognize Jesus, but God, in His wisdom, raised Him from the dead, a testament to the fulfillment of ancient promises. In the Gospel, Jesus comforts His disciples, reassuring them of a place in His Father's house. He declares Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the sole path to the Father.
Both readings are set in contexts of transition and preparation. Paul, on his missionary journey, connects Jesus to the Jewish scriptures, showing the continuity of God's plan. Jesus, in His Farewell Discourse, prepares His disciples for His departure, offering comfort and assurance. The link between the readings lies in their emphasis on belief and trust in God's plan. Paul highlights belief in the fulfillment of prophecy, while Jesus underscores belief in Him as the path to eternal life.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's plan, especially during uncertain times. They remind us that following Jesus, as the Way, leads us to eternal life. The moral lesson here is one of faith and trust in God's promises, encouraging us to live according to Jesus' teachings and find comfort in His assurance. Let us embrace this faith, trusting in God's plan and following Jesus as our guide.