An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - May 11, 2025
“My Sheep Hear My Voice; I Know Them, And They Follow Me”
This Sunday is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. Our readings today are tied together in a shepherding theme. This is also a time to pray for vocations and an increase in the number of shepherds in our church. We hear
about a Church of united followers of Christ, spreading in leaps and bounds to the ends of the earth. This is a Church in right relationship with God, following their shepherd wherever He leads them. The shepherd will lead them to the Father and their heavenly grace.
In our first reading (Acts of the Apostles 13:14, 43-52), we begin to hear about the many missionary journeys of St. Paul, St. Barnabas, and their companions. Paul’s first journey was to Antioch and other cities in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Paul’s success, especially with the Gentiles, bred jealousy in the Jewish leaders and they expelled him from the city of Antioch. Undaunted and “filled with joy and the Holy Spirit”, they continued on to many other cities.
Our second reading (Revelation 7:9, 14-17) is yet another apocalyptic vision of John. This writing offers comfort and reassurance to those of John’s time who were experiencing many persecutions. People of every nation on earth would one day stand before the throne (God) and the Lamb (Jesus) in white robes, having “survived the time of great distress”, and God will “wipe away every tear from their eyes”.
In our Gospel reading (John 10:27-30), Jesus was speaking about His relationship with His followers and how, like the good shepherd, His sheep know His voice and follow Him. This is the “right relationship” Jesus has with us and we with Him as He leads us to eternal life.
Today, we are reminded to think of Jesus as our Good Shepherd and of the intimate, loving, and caring relationship Jesus has with us. It was this relationship that certainly sustained the apostles and disciples on their missionary journeys throughout the territories of Israel, Turkey, Syria, and Greece.
Will it not sustain us as well on our missionary journeys throughout the territories of our lives?
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051125.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - May 4, 2025
“We Must Obey God Rather Than Men”
We continue this Sunday to hear eye-witness accounts of encounters with the risen Jesus Christ and the effect He had on those who loved Him. Our readings
today highlight the primacy of Peter among the Apostles and the primacy of love and faithfulness in following Jesus, despite all opposition. We also hear in the Book of Revelation of John’s visions of the universal Church giving praise and glory to the “Lamb that was slain.”
In our first reading (Acts of the Apostles 5:27-32, 40b-41), the apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin for fearlessly teaching in the name of Jesus after being instructed not to do so. They were flogged for their offense, yet went away rejoicing that they were found worthy to suffer for the sake of Jesus.
In our second reading (Revelation 5:11-14), we hear another of John’s apocalyptic visions of heaven. This vision declared the kingship and authority of the “Lamb that was slain” (Jesus). “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.”
In our Gospel reading (John 21:1-19), Jesus appeared a third time to His disciples; this time at the Sea of Tiberias. There are a few keynotes in this reading. First, after fishing all night with nothing, Jesus overfilled their nets - a symbol of the great numbers who would become Christians. Second, Jesus reversed Peter’s three denials on the night of his betrayal with His three times asking, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” to which Peter responded, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus responded “Tend my sheep.” Jesus thus installed Peter as the shepherd of His Church. Thirdly, the fact that Jesus shared a breakfast meal with His Apostles clearly indicated He was not merely a ghost or apparition but that His glorified human body was capable of eating food.
We can find no better example of how to evangelize than the Apostles. They boldly and fearlessly proclaimed the risen Christ to the world, regardless of the consequences. “We must obey God rather than men”, they said. Look what these twelve men and others accomplished as a result—not on their own but with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. May we also recognize the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives today.
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050425.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - April 27, 2025
“Peace Be With You”
Easter is such a momentous event that we celebrate it for fifty days - from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. This is the Second Sunday of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy
Sunday.
During this Easter season, all of our first readings are taken from the Acts of the Apostles, our Epistles readings are taken from the Book of Revelation, and most of our Gospel readings are taken from the Gospel according to John. It is a special time when we learn about the early life of the Church and who Jesus truly is as He revealed Himself to His disciples and followers.
In our first reading (Acts of the Apostles 5:12-16), we hear how the Apostles, especially Peter, were exercising the authority given by Jesus to heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind, and drive out demons. Many people were converted because of their words and deeds. ”A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.“
In our second reading from the Book of Revelation (Rev 1:9-11, 12-13, 17-19), we hear John describe his first vision where he was called to testify to all the Churches of the risen Jesus’ mastery over death and his final judgement and rule on the “Lord’s Day” (the final day of judgement). John wrote in a time of distress and persecution and sought to give encouragement to Christians suffering in the name of Jesus.
Our Gospel reading (John 20:19-31) has two distinct messages. One is the institution of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus appeared to His disciples in the locked room and gave them His peace and the authority to forgive sins. The other message is a call to faith, which, by its very nature, is a belief in someone or something we have not seen but know through faith to exist. This is the story of Thomas, who demanded to touch the wounds of Jesus before he would believe that Jesus was risen.
Our readings today urge us to have faith in this Jesus, the crucified, who rose from the dead, thus conquering death and atoning for our sins. In His passion and death, Jesus took upon Himself our infirmities, our sufferings, and transforms them every day into His risen body and blood through the Eucharist.
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042725.cfm
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - December 25
“AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US”
Our readings for Christmas Mass at night draw a direct connection between what Isaiah prophesied more than 500
years before Christ was born and what took place that Christmas night when the prophesy was fulfilled in all its humble glory.
In our first reading (Isaiah 9:1-6), we hear the prophesy of Isaiah that is proclaimed every Christmas Eve night - God's own Son will come to deliver us. "For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David's throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.”
In our Epistle (Titus 2:11-14), St. Paul leads us to remember that Christ promised to come again and will deliver us from all lawlessness. Paul teaches us how to live while we await the return of Jesus our Savior. “The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ.”
Our Gospel reading (Luke 2:1-14) is the account of Jesus' humble birth as Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census of the house of David. The first to bear witness were the lowly shepherds from the surrounding hillsides.
The birth of the Jesus the Messiah was not just something that happened a long time ago. It was an event foretold for centuries and awaited fervently by the people of Israel. From the moment of Jesus' birth to his tragic death and triumphant resurrection, he was the embodiment of humility, patience, and love. It is how he calls us to live "temperately, justly and devoutly in this age as we await the blessed hope."
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122523-night.cfm
Click 'Read more' for the reflection on the Christmas Day readings.