Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 3, 2024
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.1-8
1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
Psalm 19
1The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.2Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.3There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.4Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,5which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.6It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.7The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.8The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.9The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.10They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.11By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.12Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.13Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Gospel: John 14.6-14
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the heart of our Christian faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His divine relationship with the Father. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 emphasizes the core of the Gospel: Christ’s death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day. Paul underscores the importance of this message, noting that over 500 people witnessed the risen Christ, and even he, as an unlikely apostle, encountered Him. This passage reminds us that our faith stands on the foundation of Christ’s resurrection, which is not just a historical event but a living truth that transforms us.
In the Gospel, John 14:6-14, Jesus reveals Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the only path to the Father. He assures His disciples that seeing Him is seeing the Father, for He and the Father are one. Jesus invites us to trust in this union, to believe in Him, and to do even greater works through the power of the Holy Spirit. This passage invites us to deepen our relationship with Christ, to seek the Father through Him, and to live in the confidence that we are called to continue His mission in the world.
These readings are deeply connected. The resurrection of Christ, as Paul emphasizes, is the proof of God’s power and love, and it is through this resurrected Christ that we come to know the Father. Jesus’ words in John remind us that our faith is not just about believing in a historical event but about living in a personal relationship with the living God. As we go about our daily lives, let us remember that the resurrection of Christ is not just a past event but a present reality that gives us hope and strength. Let us ask ourselves: Do we truly believe in the power of the resurrection? Do we live as people who have seen the Father in Christ? May we allow the truth of these readings to transform us, so that we may bear witness to the Gospel in our words and actions, and may we always seek to glorify the Father through our lives.