Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 2, 2021
First Reading: Acts 9.26-31
26And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.27But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.28And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.29And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.30Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.31Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
Psalm 22
1My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?2O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.3But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.4Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.5They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.7All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,8He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.9But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.10I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.11Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.12Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.13They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.17I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.19But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.20Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.21Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.23Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.24For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.25My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.26The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.27All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.28For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.29All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.30A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.31They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
Second Reading: 1 John 3.18-24
18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.24And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Gospel: John 15.1-8
1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of community, love, and our relationship with God. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community struggling to trust Paul, the former persecutor, until Barnabas steps in to vouch for him. This moment reminds us that building trust and unity in the Church requires courage and the willingness to see the good in others. The second reading from 1 John emphasizes that love is not just a feeling but a commitment to actions that reflect God’s truth. John reminds us that our confidence before God comes from keeping his commandments and loving one another as he has loved us. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus uses the image of the vine and the branches to teach us about our dependence on him. He is the source of life and fruitfulness, and without him, we can do nothing.
These readings are deeply connected. The early Church in Acts was able to grow and flourish because its members walked in the fear of the Lord and were filled with the Holy Spirit. This growth was rooted in their faithfulness to God’s commandments and their love for one another, as 1 John describes. The Gospel takes this a step further by showing us that this love and faithfulness are only possible when we abide in Christ. Just as branches draw life from the vine, we draw spiritual life from Jesus. When we remain connected to him, we bear fruit that glorifies the Father.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to examine how we are living as part of God’s family. Are we like Barnabas, willing to extend trust and support to others? Are we loving not just in words but in deeds? Are we staying connected to Christ through prayer, the sacraments, and living according to his teachings? The moral lesson is clear: our faith is not a solitary journey but a communal one, and our fruitfulness comes from abiding in Christ and keeping his commandments. Let us ask for the grace to remain deeply rooted in him, so that we may bear fruit that lasts and bring glory to God.