Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 22, 2024
First Reading: James 4.13-17
13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.16But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Psalm 49
1Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:2Both low and high, rich and poor, together.3My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.4I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.5Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?6They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;7None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:8For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)9That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.10For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.11Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.12Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.13This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.14Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.15But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.16Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;17For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.18Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.19He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.20Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Gospel: Mark 9.38-40
38And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.39But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.40For he that is not against us is on our part.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the importance of humility, trust in God’s providence, and the need to avoid judgment and division. In the first reading from James, we are reminded that our lives are fleeting—like a mist that appears and then vanishes. James warns against arrogance and presumption, urging us to recognize that all our plans and achievements are contingent on God’s will. He calls us to live with humility, acknowledging that true wisdom comes from submitting our desires and ambitions to the Lord. The reading also emphasizes the sin of omission—failing to do good when we have the opportunity. This is a call to action, encouraging us to live intentionally and generously, mindful of the shortness of life and the importance of aligning our actions with God’s will.
In the Gospel, Mark presents a scene where the disciples try to stop someone from casting out demons in Jesus’ name because he is not part of their group. Jesus responds by telling them not to prohibit the man, for “whoever is not against us is for us.” This teaching challenges us to move beyond our tendency to judge others based on whether they belong to our group or follow our way of doing things. Jesus is pointing out that God’s work is not limited to those who are part of our circle. It is a call to openness, inclusivity, and trust in God’s ability to work through anyone, even those we might not expect or understand.
Together, these readings remind us that our lives are not our own, and our understanding is limited. We are called to live with humility, recognizing that all we have and all we do is a gift from God. We are also invited to let go of our need to control or judge others, trusting that God can work through anyone who seeks to do good. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask for the grace to live with humility, to trust in God’s providence, and to see the good that others do, even when it doesn’t fit our expectations. May we be open to God’s surprises and generous in our support of those who seek to serve Him, even if their path is different from our own.