Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection May 21, 2026

21st May 2026 (Thursday)

Psalter: Week 3

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11

In those days: Desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them. Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

Psalm 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 R.(1)

R/. You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, sing to God. Or: Alleluia.

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. May they all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so that the world may believe that you have sent me, says the Lord.

R/. Alleluia

Gospel: John 17:20-26

At that time, [Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and prayed, saying,] “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Daily Gospel Reflection

Thursday – 7th Week of Easter

Main Point: When credibility goes down, effectiveness goes down, and when sincerity and ethics go down, credibility goes down, too.

1. The main idea of Jesus’ goodbye prayer is unity. He wants his students to be one, just like the Father and he are one. This unity isn’t just for getting along or making the mission go smoothly.

2. The goal is much deeper. Unity is an example. Unity isn’t just a way to do something; it’s our very calling and identity. To put it another way, we can only be God’s children and Christ’s followers if we are united and one.

3. Jesus makes it very clear what kind of unity it must be. It’s not just staying together and working together for the sake of ease, gain, guilt, or duty. In fact, a lot of the time, the unity that many followers show is a “make-shift” or “working” unity.

4. It’s not built in real respect, love, care, or kindness. They may be working together, but there is a lot of hate, bias, and a desire to hurt each other.

5. That’s why Jesus says, “that all may be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, so that they too may be in us.” In other words, there can be no real unity without a deep union. Unity can only happen when hearts and spirits are close to each other.

6. This unity has three parts: unity in faith, unity in love, and unity in glory. The followers can only be united if they love God, love each other, and seek God’s glory together. “So that the world may believe that you sent me,” Jesus says. “The glory that you gave me I have given to them,” he adds. “That the love with which you loved me may be in them.”

My Practice: If we love and are close to God, we can’t hate and not care about other people. Spiritual union is the basis for brotherly union, and fraternal union shows that spiritual union is real.