Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 25, 2021

First Reading: Sirach 35.1-15

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Psalm 50

¹The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.²From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.³Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.⁴He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:⁵"Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."⁶And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is judge. Selah⁷"Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.⁸I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.⁹I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,¹⁰for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.¹¹I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.¹²If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.¹³Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?¹⁴Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,¹⁵and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."¹⁶But to the wicked, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?¹⁷You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.¹⁸When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.¹⁹You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.²⁰You speak continually against your brother and slander your own mother's son.²¹These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face.²²"Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:²³He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."

Gospel: Mark 10.28-31

Mark

Chapter 10

²⁸Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!"²⁹"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel³⁰will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.³¹But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

Sermon

The first reading from Sirach reminds us that true sacrifice is not just about external rituals but about living a life of integrity and justice. It emphasizes that withdrawing from sin and acting with mercy are the most pleasing offerings we can give to God. The reading encourages us to approach God with gratitude, generosity, and sincerity, for it is in these ways that we honor Him and align our lives with His will. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel shifts our focus to the radical call of discipleship. Peter and the other disciples had left everything to follow Jesus, and in response, Jesus promises that their sacrifice will be abundantly rewarded—not only in this life but also in the age to come. However, He also warns that the first will be last and the last will be first, challenging our notions of status, reward, and true greatness. Both readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in practical ways. Sirach calls us to a life of moral integrity and generosity, while Mark’s Gospel reminds us that following Christ requires sacrifice and humility. Together, they teach us that our relationship with God is not about outward appearances or material offerings but about the condition of our hearts and the way we live out His commandments. The readings encourage us to trust in God’s providence, knowing that our sacrifices and efforts to live justly will bear fruit, even if the rewards are not always immediate or visible. In our daily lives, this means being mindful of how we use our time, talents, and resources. It means choosing to act with justice, mercy, and generosity, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. It also means embracing the challenges of discipleship with faith and trust, knowing that God’s ways are not our ways, and His timing is not our timing. Let us strive to live with hearts that are truly converted, offering ourselves to God in sacrifice and trusting that He will transform us and use us for His greater glory.