Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection May 14, 2025

14th May 2025 (Wednesday)

Psalter: Week 4

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26

In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (R. 8)

R/. The Lord set them with the princes of his people. Or: Alleluia.

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. I chose you from the world that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, says the Lord.

R/. Alleluia

Gospel: John 15:9-17

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Daily Gospel Reflection

Wednesday – 4th Week of Easter

Main Point: Though many times, we may refer to luck and good chances, nothing is by chance. In God’s plan, everything good or bad has got its own place

1. Jesus asserts: “You did not choose me but I chose you”. This once again reminds us that our vocation is not by chance or by our own choice. Though often we speak of discernment, it does not mean that everything depends on us and we are the decision-takers and destiny-makers. It only indicates our role and duty to be guided by the light of the Spirit.

2. It is always God who chooses. We see a concrete instance of God’s choice in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. A twelfth apostle had to be elected in the place of Judas Iscariot who killed himself. Out of the two proposed, namely Barsabbas and Matthias, Matthias gets elected by lot.

3. However, election by lot does not mean mere luck. It denotes that it was not under human control or manipulation. Rather it was under God’s survey and sway. Besides, no special details are given about Matthias like the other one: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus. This indicates that Barsabbas might be more known and popular than Matthais. But the lot fell on Matthias. This also shows that God’s choice is not conditioned by one’s merits or credentials.

4. Now, what is the purpose of this divine choice? It is to go on his mission and bear abundant fruit. What does this abundant fruit-bearing imply? First, we must abide in his love. This is seen by keeping his commandments. And the greatest commandment is to love one another even to the extent of dying for the other. This is the same sacrificial love of Jesus. He loved the Father unconditionally and died for the sake of others.

5. The greatest effects of this are: we will be raised from being servants to his friends. And we will be filled with true and full joy.

My Practice: If anyone wants to become friends of Jesus and be joyful, the only way is to love God in total surrender and to love others with a self-sacrificing love