Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 17, 2021
First Reading: Acts 19.1-8
1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.7And all the men were about twelve.8And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Psalm 68
1Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.2As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.3But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.4Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.5A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.6God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.7O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:8The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.9Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.10Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.11The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.12Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.13Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.14When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.15The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.16Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.17The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.18Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.19Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.20He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.21But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.22The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:23That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.24They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.25The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.26Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.27There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.28Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.29Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.30Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.31Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.32Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:33To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.34Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.35O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
Gospel: John 16.29-33
29His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.30Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.31Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?32Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of faith and transformation. In the first reading from Acts, Paul meets a group of disciples in Ephesus who had been baptized with the baptism of John but had not yet received the Holy Spirit. Paul explains that John’s baptism was a call to repentance, preparing the way for faith in Jesus. After baptizing them in the name of Jesus, Paul lays hands on them, and the Holy Spirit descends, empowering them to speak in tongues and prophesy. This passage reminds us of the vital role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and the necessity of living a life fully surrendered to Christ.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the challenges they will face. He acknowledges that they will be scattered and that He will be left alone, but He reassures them that He is never truly alone because the Father is always with Him. Jesus offers these words of comfort so that His disciples—and we—might have peace in the midst of turmoil. He reminds us that while the world will bring difficulties, we can have confidence because He has already overcome the world. This passage invites us to trust in God’s presence and providence, even in the face of uncertainty and hardship.
These readings are deeply connected. Both highlight the importance of the Holy Spirit and the need to trust in God’s plan. In Acts, the Spirit’s outpouring transforms the lives of the disciples, equipping them for mission. In John’s Gospel, Jesus promises peace and assurance to His disciples, knowing the trials they will face. For us today, these readings call us to examine our own relationship with the Holy Spirit and our willingness to trust in God’s presence in our lives. May we, like the disciples in Ephesus, open ourselves to the fullness of the Spirit, and may we, like Jesus’ disciples, find peace and confidence in the knowledge that God is always with us, even in the midst of challenges.