Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 19, 2019
First Reading: Acts 14.21b-27
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.
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.
Second Reading: Revelation 21.1-5a
1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Gospel: John 13.1, 31-33a, 34-35
1Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.31Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.32If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we journey through the early Christian church’s perseverance, a vision of eternal hope, and the commandment of love that binds us together. The first reading from Acts recounts Paul and Barnabas's missionary efforts, highlighting their dedication to spreading the Gospel despite tribulations. They established communities, appointed leaders, and entrusted their flock to God, exemplifying faith and resilience. This narrative underscores the challenges faced by the early church and the importance of standing firm in faith.
The second reading from Revelation presents a glorious vision of the New Jerusalem, where God dwells among His people, erasing sorrow and death. This apocalyptic imagery offers hope, reminding us that our earthly struggles are temporary, and God’s promise of eternal life with Him is our ultimate destination. It inspires us to persevere, knowing that our efforts are not in vain.
In the Gospel, Jesus, during His last moments with His disciples, issues a new commandment: to love one another as He has loved us. This love is not merely emotional but selfless and sacrificial, reflecting God’s love. It is through this love that we are recognized as His disciples. The connection between the readings is clear: the perseverance in Acts is fueled by the hope in Revelation, and both are lived out through the love commanded in John.
In our daily lives, we face challenges, but like the early church, we can endure through faith. Holding onto the hope of eternal life, we are called to love selflessly, just as Christ loved us. This love transforms our interactions, fostering a community that reflects God’s presence. The moral lesson is clear: love is the foundation of Christian life, making us true disciples and guiding us toward the heavenly vision. Let us embrace this love, living it out in every moment, as we journey toward the promise of eternal life.