Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 18, 2021

First Reading: Acts 20.17-27

¹⁷From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.¹⁸When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.¹⁹I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews.²⁰You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.²¹I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.²²"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.²³I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.²⁴However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.²⁵"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.²⁶Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.²⁷For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

Psalm 68

Psalms

Chapter 68

¹May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.²As smoke is blown away by the wind, may you blow them away; as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.³But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.⁴Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds - his name is the LORD - and rejoice before him.⁵A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.⁶God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.⁷When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, Selah⁸the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.⁹You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.¹⁰Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.¹¹The Lord announced the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it:¹²"Kings and armies flee in haste; in the camps men divide the plunder.¹³Even while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold."¹⁴When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Zalmon.¹⁵The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains; rugged are the mountains of Bashan.¹⁶Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the LORD himself will dwell forever?¹⁷The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.¹⁸When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious- that you, O LORD God, might dwell there.¹⁹Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah²⁰Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.²¹Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.²²The Lord says, "I will bring them from Bashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea,²³that you may plunge your feet in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share."²⁴Your procession has come into view, O God, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.²⁵In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the maidens playing tambourines.²⁶Praise God in the great congregation; praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel.²⁷There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah's princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.²⁸Summon your power, O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before.²⁹Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts.³⁰Rebuke the beast among the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations. Humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.³¹Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will submit herself to God.³²Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, Selah³³to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice.³⁴Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies.³⁵You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

Gospel: John 17.1-11a

John

Chapter 17

¹After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:²"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.³Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.⁴I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.⁵And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.⁶"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.⁷Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.⁸For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.⁹I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.¹⁰All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.¹¹I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two profound moments of reflection and prayer from St. Paul and Jesus, each highlighting their unwavering commitment to their missions and the well-being of their followers. In Acts 20:17-27, St. Paul addresses the elders of Ephesus, recounting his ministry with humility and perseverance despite the trials he faced. He expresses his readiness to face future challenges in Jerusalem, emphasizing that his life’s purpose is to fulfill God’s will. This passage captures Paul’s farewell, underscoring his dedication to spreading the Gospel and his trust in God’s plan. In John 17:1-11a, Jesus offers a heartfelt prayer to the Father, glorifying Him and acknowledging the authority given to Him. Jesus prays for His disciples, seeking their unity and protection in a world filled with challenges. This prayer, part of the Last Supper narrative, reflects Jesus’ deep concern for His followers and His desire for their unity and perseverance in faith. Both readings emphasize the themes of commitment, unity, and trust in God. St. Paul’s courage in the face of adversity and Jesus’ prayer for His disciples remind us of the importance of staying faithful despite life’s challenges. They call us to reflect on our own commitment to our faith and our role within the community of believers. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to embrace our mission with dedication, just as Paul and Jesus did. They remind us to trust in God’s plan, even when the future is uncertain, and to pray for one another, seeking unity and strength in our shared faith. Let us strive to live selflessly, dedicated to our faith, and support each other in our spiritual journeys, just as Paul and Jesus exemplified.