Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 16, 2017
First Reading: Acts 14.19-28
19And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.20Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.21And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.23And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.24And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.25And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:26And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.27And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.28And there they abode long time with the disciples.
Psalm 145
1I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.2Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.4One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.5I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.6And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.7They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.8The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.9The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.10All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.11They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;12To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.13Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.14The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.15The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.16Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.17The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.18The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.19He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.20The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.21My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
Sermon
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles recounts the perseverance of St. Paul and Barnabas as they faced intense persecution during their missionary journey. Despite being stoned and left for dead, Paul rose, continued preaching, and strengthened the faith of the early Christian communities. This passage highlights the resilience of the apostles and their unwavering commitment to spreading the Gospel, even in the face of suffering. It also reminds us that the journey of faith is not without its trials, but through them, God’s grace sustains us and leads us to deeper trust in His plan.
The reading invites us to reflect on the cost of discipleship. Just as Paul and Barnabas endured hardships to proclaim the Good News, we too are called to remain faithful in the face of challenges. The early Christians were exhorted to remain steadfast in their faith, knowing that the kingdom of God is entered through many tribulations. This truth is timeless. In our own lives, we may encounter struggles, whether personal, spiritual, or relational. Yet, like the apostles, we are called to trust in God’s providence and to persevere, knowing that our trials are opportunities to grow in holiness and to bear witness to the power of faith.
As we apply this to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Where are we being called to persevere? How can we, like Paul and Barnabas, trust in God’s plan even when the path seems uncertain or difficult? The moral lesson here is clear: faith is not about avoiding suffering but about trusting God in the midst of it. May we, like the early disciples, find strength in prayer, in the sacraments, and in the support of our Christian community. Let us remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that through our trials, God is shaping us and preparing us for the eternal kingdom He has promised.