Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection June 03, 2025

03rd June 2025 (Tuesday)

Psalter: Week 3

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Acts 20:17-27

In those days: From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21 R. (33a)

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

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you for ever.

R/. Alleluia

Gospel: John 17:1-11a

At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.

Daily Gospel Reflection

Tuesday – 7th Week of Easter

Main Point: There is a subtle difference between self-glory and God’s glory about which often a great many believers and ministers may confuse. In the former, the whole focus and centre is self, while in the latter, it is God

1. Many a time, “glorifying God” is reduced to mere word proclamation or working healings and miracles. This is very well a disguised form of self-promotion. Even the great gifts of God, like the eloquence of preaching, the power of miracles, etc. can be means of seeking self-attention and self-recognition.

2. But in contrast, in today’s first reading and the gospel, we find Paul and Jesus himself. They are totally devoid of any self-seeking and self-glory. We are shown what is the real and the right way to glorify God.

3. It is “accomplishing the work that God has entrusted”. It consists of the communion of depth and intimacy. It is through a mission of conviction and passion, courage and perseverance, loyalty and commitment. It is a mission that “does not shrink from bearing witness”.

4. Paul too follows the same spirit and mission of his Master. That is why he attests, “I do not account my life of any value or as precious to myself”. It is worth it “if only I accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus”.

5. He could convincingly affirm, “I did never shrink from this duty”, “to declare to all the whole counsel of God”, and “to testify to the gospel of the grace of God”. Thus, he remains unperturbed and undeterred even though he knew well that “imprisonment and hardships await him”.

6. Every disciple of the Lord is expected to remain rooted and United with God and to glorify God by accomplishing God’s works. As the Lord prays, we need to totally belong to him, and not to the world. We are in the world but are not of the world.

7. We need to be one with one another, just as Jesus was one with the Father. We need to glorify the Lord just as Jesus always glorified the Father.

My Practice: Giving testimony is not a matter of proclaiming what great things I have done even with the mention of God’s power, but rather glorifying God’s will and plans even amidst one’s individual inadequacies