Daily Readings for May 5, 2015

1ST READING

It is difficult to establish a new faith community. But Paul did it successfully many times. How hard do we work to deepen our faith and sense of community through the Gospel? We may lose it if we do not work on it consistently.

Acts 14:19-28

19 In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city. On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. 21 After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. 22 They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” 23 They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith. 24 Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. 25 After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished. 27 And when they arrived, they called the Church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 Then they spent no little time with the disciples.

P S A L M

Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 21

R: Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

10 Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 12 Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. (R) 21 May my mouth speak the praise of the Lord, and may all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. (R)

GOSPEL

John’s story about Jesus before His Passion is like a drama with different stages. Jesus prepared His disciples and told them that the time will come when He will be taken away from them. We know this because we have the inside story on the events of 2,000 years ago. The disciples were still in the dark. They knew Jesus will suffer and He will leave them. They also knew He will return. Jesus taught them that service is the key to their ministry.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory.

John 14:27-31

27 Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or be afraid. 28 You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. 30 I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, 31 but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com

Daily Readings for May 4, 2015

1ST READING

Paul was undaunted by his difficulties and struggles. His ministry was action-packed and was anything but boring. His conviction in proclaiming the Gospel was far greater than any fear of death that he might have had. Paul wanted to bring the Gospel to as many people as he could.

Acts 14: 5-18

5 There was an attempt in Iconium by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their leaders, to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas. 6 They realized it, and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside, 7 where they continued to proclaim the Good News. 8 At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth, who had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him, saw that he had the faith to be healed, 10 and called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.” He jumped up and began to walk about. 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in human form.” 12 They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,” because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice. 14 The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 15 “Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways; 17 yet, in bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.” 18 Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

P S A L M

Psalm 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16

R: Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.

1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name give glory because of your mercy, because of your truth. 2 Why should the pagans say, “Where is their God?” (R) 3 Our God is in heaven; whatever he wills, he does. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of men. (R) 15 May you be blessed by the Lord who made heaven and earth. 16 Heaven is the heaven of the Lord, but the earth he has given to the children of men. (R)

GOSPEL

Loving God is the key to all our problems. Jesus promised that if we love God, He will dwell within us. If He is within us, who can be against us? Life as a disciple of Jesus is not that difficult because God is always there to help us. Sadly, those who fail to love God above all will fall.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I told you.

John 14: 21-26

21 Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” 22Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, “Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. 25 “I have told you this while I am with you. 26 The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name — he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com

Daily Readings for May 3, 2015

Feast of Sts. Philip and James, Apostles

1ST READING

Paul began to proclaim the Gospel in Jerusalem, but when it became too dangerous for him to stay there, he went to Tarsus. Through the letters that he wrote, it seems he spent some time in prayer and reflection, and maybe a little evangelization. Prayer, formation and reflection are essential to the Christian life. We should not neglect these things.

Acts 9:26-31

26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles, and he reported to them how he had seen the Lord and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem, and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists, but they tried to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus. 31 The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.

P S A L M

Psalm 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32

R: I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

25 [26] I will fulfill my vows before those who fear the Lord. 26 [27] The lowly shall eat their fill; they who seek the Lord shall praise him: “May your hearts live forever!” (R) 27 [28] All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; all the families of the nations shall bow down before him. (R) 29 [30] To him alone shall bow down all who sleep in the earth; before him shall bend all who go down into the dust. (R) And to him my soul shall live; 30 [31] my descendants shall serve him. Let the coming generation be told of the Lord 31 [32] that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born the justice he has shown. (R)

2ND READING

True love must be expressed in words and action. Love demands that we do something about those who suffer. We do not need to solve the problems of the world, but we must help to find solutions.

1 John 3:18-24

18 Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. 19Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts before him 20 in whatever our hearts condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God 22 and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. 24 Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit that he gave us.

GOSPEL

The Father wants to form us according to His will. He cannot do this if we resist His Word and Spirit in our lives. God wants our lives to bear fruit for His Kingdom and to have fullness of life. Is this what we also want for ourselves? God does not want us to suffer, but sometimes, suffering is necessary to help us overcome sin.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Remain in me as I remain in you, says the Lord. Whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.

John 15:1-8

1 Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. 2 He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. 3 You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. 4 Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

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Daily Readings for May 2, 2015

1ST READING

Proclaiming the Gospel was difficult for Paul. People opposed him, many of whom wanted him dead for what he said. He stirred the faith of those who heard him. We will face opposition, too, when we stand for the truth of the Gospel. It is not always easy to act on our faith in God, but it is essential to our salvation.

Acts 13:44-52

44 On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. 46 Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth. 48 The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, 49 and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. 50 The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. 51 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

P S A L M

Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

R: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 2 The Lord has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. 3 He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. 4 Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R)

GOSPEL

St. Athanasius was a holy man and a great theologian who defended the divinity of Christ with fervor and passion. As a bishop, the secular authorities exiled him at least three times due to their heretical beliefs and their hostility to the true faith. Athanasius persevered as the pastor of his people, both in and out of exile. Let us pray for that same perseverance as we follow God’s will.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, says the Lord.

John 14:7-14

7 Jesus said to his disciples: “If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. 12 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com

Daily Readings for May 1, 2015

Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

1ST READING

Today, we celebrate the Feast of Joseph the Worker. Let us remember the plight of workers and laborers throughout the world, particularly those who are not paid a just wage for their labors. Justice in the workplace is a two-way reality: Owners must pay a fair wage and workers must do an honest day’s work. In economic terms, labor and capital must work together to create a fairer workplace and a better world.

Genesis 1:26-2:3 (or Colossians 3:14-15, 17, 23-24 or Acts 13:26-33)

26 God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.” 27 God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them, saying: “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth.” 29 God also said: “See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; 30 and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food.” And so it happened. 31 God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed — the sixth day. 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. 2 Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, God rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.

P S A L M

Psalm 90:2, 3-4, 12-13, 14, 16 (or Psalm 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11)

R: Lord, give success to the work of our hands. 2 Before the mountains were begotten and the earth and the world were brought forth, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (R) 3 You turn men back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night. (R) 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. 13 Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! (R) 14 Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. 16 Let your work be seen by your servants and your glory by their children. (R)

GOSPEL

We ignore the plight of those in need because we do not realize the significance of a person’s suffering. We should do all that we can to ensure that the goods we buy are not products that result from the exploitation of workers. Let us also consider whether paying ridiculous prices for designer products is morally acceptable or not, when so many people struggle to put food on their tables. Could the money we spend on fashion be put to a better use?

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed be the Lord day by day, God, our salvation, who bears our burdens.

Matthew 13:54-58 (or John 14:1-6)

54 Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? 55 Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A  prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” 58 And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com