Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 28, 2021

First Reading: Sirach 44.1, 8-13

This reading is not available in the KJV version. Visit the CPDV version to view the reading.

Psalm 149

¹Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.²Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.³Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.⁴For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.⁵Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.⁶Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;⁷To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;⁸To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;⁹To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

Gospel: Mark 11.11-25

Mark

Chapter 11

¹¹And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.¹²And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:¹³And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.¹⁴And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.¹⁵And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;¹⁶And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.¹⁷And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.¹⁸And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.¹⁹And when even was come, he went out of the city.²⁰And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.²¹And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.²²And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.²³For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.²⁴Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.²⁵And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Sermon

In today's readings, we reflect on the themes of legacy, faith, and spiritual fruitfulness. The first reading from Sirach reminds us that while some may fade into obscurity, those who live virtuous lives leave a lasting, positive impact. Their deeds and mercy ensure a holy inheritance for their descendants, highlighting the importance of living with integrity and compassion. The Gospel from Mark presents Jesus' encounter with a barren fig tree, which serves as a powerful symbol of spiritual barrenness. Jesus' curse on the tree and his subsequent teachings emphasize the necessity of bearing spiritual fruit. The withered fig tree illustrates the consequences of not living a fruitful spiritual life. Jesus then teaches about the power of faith and prayer, stressing the importance of forgiveness in our relationship with God and others. As we apply these lessons to our daily lives, we are reminded to examine our actions and their impact. Just as the fig tree was judged for its lack of fruit, we too are called to bear fruit through our deeds and prayers. Let us strive to live with faith and integrity, ensuring that our legacy is one of love, mercy, and spiritual richness. May we cultivate a deep faith, forgive others, and seek a fruitful spiritual life, inspiring others through our actions and prayers.