An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - June 1, 2025
“Amen! Come, Lord Jesus”
As we look forward to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (next Sunday), our readings today are a series of last words. We hear the last words of St. Stephen as he was stoned to death, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
We hear the last words of St. John at the end of the Book of Revelation as he awaits the second coming of our Lord, “Amen! Come Lord Jesus!”; and we hear the very last words Jesus spoke to His disciples before going out into the night to His arrest and crucifixion, known as the High Priestly Prayer.
In our first reading (Acts 7:55-60), we hear of the first recorded martyr for Christ, St. Stephen, the Deacon. He was arrested for working “great signs and wonders among the people” and for speaking in Christ’s name. He was stoned to death as a blasphemer, even as he called out to God to forgive them. In his death as in his life, he was the ultimate model of Christ.
Our second reading (Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20) is from the very end of the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible. John tells of the second coming of Christ, who is the beginning and the end. In a series of “I AM” statements, Christ tells us who He is and that He is coming soon.
Our Gospel reading (John 17:20-26) is taken from the climax of Jesus’ farewell discourse at the Last Supper. It is sometimes called the High Priestly Prayer, as Jesus turned His attention to His Father. He prayed an intercessory prayer for His disciples and for those who would come to believe through them. These were the last words spoken by Jesus before He went out to the Garden of Gethsemane. His prayer is for unity, that all may be one, even as Jesus and the Father are one, and that they may believe that the Father sent Him.
As we look forward to and await the coming of the Lord when our world, as we know it, will end, we sometimes can get the idea that Jesus has not yet come. The end times is Jesus’ final coming, when He will bring ”the recompense to each according to his deeds.” But it is not His only coming. He came to us a humble, defenseless infant at His birth in a manger; and He came to us at Pentecost in the person of His Holy Spirit. He came to us on the cross as He gave His very life for our salvation. He comes to us every day in the Eucharist; and He comes to us every time we call upon Him in need. “Amen! Come Lord Jesus!”
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060125.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - May 25, 2025
“Peace I Leave With You; My Peace I Give To You”
Our readings this Sunday give us a glimpse into the past, present, and the future of our faith and our salvation. The past is the struggles our early Church leaders went through in unifying their fledgling communities of love. The present is Jesus’ dual gifts of His Spirit to guide us and His blessed peace to sustain us. The future is John’s vision of the New Jerusalem to come that will be like a massive fortress, gleaming with the splendor of God and basking in the light of the Lamb.
In our first reading (Acts 15:1-2, 22-29), we hear of Paul and Barnabas’ great success in converting many Gentiles as disciples. But not without controversy, because many in Jerusalem expected the new converts to conform to all Jewish laws and customs, including circumcision. A Council in Jerusalem, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, settled the matter. This was the first of many ‘Ecumenical Councils’ that would be called to settle matters of Church doctrine and morality. The most recent was the Second Vatican Council that met from 1962 to 1965.
In our second reading (Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23), St. John describes what the New Jerusalem will look like in symbolic terms that the Jews of his day would have understood. Despite their current trials, they had something to look forward to.
In our Gospel reading (John 14:23-29), we continue to hear from Jesus’ farewell address to His disciples at the Last Supper. Here, Jesus gave them two gifts that would guide them and sustain them in their difficult days ahead. The “Advocate” is the Spirit of love shared between the Father and the Son and will be their teacher and guide; and the “Peace” Jesus left with them would comfort and sustain them like nothing the world had ever seen.
Our faith not only has a past and a present, but it has a future. No matter how dire our past has been or our present seems, our future is what God has planned for us. Our future is the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, where every tear shall be wiped away and God Himself will provide the radiance and the light to warm us. In the meantime, we have the Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us and the Peace of Christ to sustain us. Ours is to believe it, and prepare our souls to receive it.
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052525.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - May 18, 2025
“I Give You A New Commandment: Love One Another”
In our readings for this Sunday, Paul’s first missionary journey comes to an end with great success. Elders are appointed in each of the new churches. In the book of Revelation, John assures us again—”God’s dwelling is with the human race and He will wipe away every tear”. In our Gospel reading, Jesus issues a new commandment -to love one another as He has loved us—an old commandment with a new twist. In doing so, He underscores His unity with the Father (only God can issue a commandment).
Our first reading (Acts of the Apostles 14:21-27) is evidence that the apostles took Jesus' new commandment of love to heart. Today, we hear about the end of Paul’s fist missionary journey to the Gentile world. Paul and Barnabas went from city to city, over great distances and enduring great hardships and persecutions, bolstering and sustaining their fledgling new communities of love. They appointed elders (priests and bishops) in each church. They were living examples of Jesus' selfless love.
In our second reading (Revelation 21:1-5), John describes his vision of the end times with a “new heaven and a new earth” and the old heaven and earth would pass away. At this time, all of our suffering, tears, and trials will be wiped away. This is the time when the New Jerusalem will be like a “bride adorned for her husband . . . God Himself will always be with them as their God.”
In our Gospel reading (John 13:31-35), we listen in near the end of the Last Supper. This is the beginning of Jesus’ farewell address to His disciples. Jesus knew what the others did not; His betrayal and impending death was to be His glorification. His teaching to His apostles at this moment was to give them a new commandment - a new way of living the mission. They had heard “love one another” before, but the new twist—”As I have loved you” was added. That’s not an easy commandment to live, and yet they did—many of them to their deaths.
Today's Gospel passage is a wonderful opportunity to practice meditating on God’s word. So consider this challenge: read today's gospel passage multiple times, each time meditating more deeply on its meaning in your life. What does it mean to love one another as Jesus has loved you?
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051825.cfm
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 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.