Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 25, 2021
First Reading: Sirach 35.1-15
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Psalm 50
1The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.4He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.5Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.6And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.7Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.16But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.21These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Gospel: Mark 10.28-31
28Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.29And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,30But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.31But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Sermon
The first reading from Sirach reminds us that true sacrifice is not just about external rituals but about living a life of integrity and justice. It emphasizes that withdrawing from sin and acting with mercy are the most pleasing offerings we can give to God. The reading encourages us to approach God with gratitude, generosity, and sincerity, for it is in these ways that we honor Him and align our lives with His will. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel shifts our focus to the radical call of discipleship. Peter and the other disciples had left everything to follow Jesus, and in response, Jesus promises that their sacrifice will be abundantly rewarded—not only in this life but also in the age to come. However, He also warns that the first will be last and the last will be first, challenging our notions of status, reward, and true greatness.
Both readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in practical ways. Sirach calls us to a life of moral integrity and generosity, while Mark’s Gospel reminds us that following Christ requires sacrifice and humility. Together, they teach us that our relationship with God is not about outward appearances or material offerings but about the condition of our hearts and the way we live out His commandments. The readings encourage us to trust in God’s providence, knowing that our sacrifices and efforts to live justly will bear fruit, even if the rewards are not always immediate or visible.
In our daily lives, this means being mindful of how we use our time, talents, and resources. It means choosing to act with justice, mercy, and generosity, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. It also means embracing the challenges of discipleship with faith and trust, knowing that God’s ways are not our ways, and His timing is not our timing. Let us strive to live with hearts that are truly converted, offering ourselves to God in sacrifice and trusting that He will transform us and use us for His greater glory.