Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 2, 2021
First Reading: Acts 9.26-31
26When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.30When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
Psalm 22
1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?2O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.3Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel.4In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.5They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.6But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.7All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:8"He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."9Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast.10From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.11Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.12Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.13Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me.14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.15My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.16Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.17I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.18They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.19But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.20Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs.21Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.22I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you.23You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!24For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.25From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.26The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him- may your hearts live forever!27All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,28for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.29All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him- those who cannot keep themselves alive.30Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.31They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn- for he has done it.
Second Reading: 1 John 3.18-24
18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God22and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.24Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
Gospel: John 15.1-8
1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of community, love, and our relationship with God. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community struggling to trust Paul, the former persecutor, until Barnabas steps in to vouch for him. This moment reminds us that building trust and unity in the Church requires courage and the willingness to see the good in others. The second reading from 1 John emphasizes that love is not just a feeling but a commitment to actions that reflect God’s truth. John reminds us that our confidence before God comes from keeping his commandments and loving one another as he has loved us. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus uses the image of the vine and the branches to teach us about our dependence on him. He is the source of life and fruitfulness, and without him, we can do nothing.
These readings are deeply connected. The early Church in Acts was able to grow and flourish because its members walked in the fear of the Lord and were filled with the Holy Spirit. This growth was rooted in their faithfulness to God’s commandments and their love for one another, as 1 John describes. The Gospel takes this a step further by showing us that this love and faithfulness are only possible when we abide in Christ. Just as branches draw life from the vine, we draw spiritual life from Jesus. When we remain connected to him, we bear fruit that glorifies the Father.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to examine how we are living as part of God’s family. Are we like Barnabas, willing to extend trust and support to others? Are we loving not just in words but in deeds? Are we staying connected to Christ through prayer, the sacraments, and living according to his teachings? The moral lesson is clear: our faith is not a solitary journey but a communal one, and our fruitfulness comes from abiding in Christ and keeping his commandments. Let us ask for the grace to remain deeply rooted in him, so that we may bear fruit that lasts and bring glory to God.