Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 23, 2024
First Reading: James 5.1-6
1Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.3Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.4Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.5Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.6Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
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 9.41-50
41For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.42And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.43And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:46Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.49For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.50Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
Sermon
The readings today offer a powerful message about justice, compassion, and personal responsibility. The first reading from James 5:1-6 condemns the exploitation of the poor by the wealthy, warning of the corruption and consequences that follow such actions. It calls for fairness and justice in how we treat others, especially those who are vulnerable. The Gospel from Mark 9:41-50 emphasizes the importance of caring for others, particularly the weak, and the severe repercussions of leading them into sin. Jesus teaches the necessity of radical self-denial, urging us to make sacrifices to avoid sin and live righteously.
These readings are set against the backdrop of early Christian communities, where James addresses the exploitation within wealthier segments, while Mark highlights Jesus' teachings on moral responsibility. Together, they underscore the dual focus of social justice and personal accountability. James reminds us of the consequences of oppression, while Mark stresses the need for self-reflection and sacrifice to avoid sin.
In our daily lives, these teachings call us to mindfulness and compassion. We must ensure our actions do not harm others, especially the less fortunate, and treat workers with fairness. From Mark, we learn the importance of self-discipline, making difficult choices to uphold moral standards. The moral lesson is clear: justice, compassion, and self-discipline are essential. Let us examine our lives, striving to live justly and compassionately, willing to make sacrifices for a righteous life.