Gospel: May 19, 2025
May 19, 2025 (Monday)
5th Week of Easter
Psalter: Week 1 / (White)
Ps 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16
Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
1st Reading: Acts 14:5-18
A move was made by pagans and Jews, together with their leaders, to harm the apostles and to stone them. But Paul and Barnabas learned of this and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside, where they continued preaching the Good News. Paul and Barnabas spent a fairly long time at Lystra. There was a crippled man in Lystra who had never been able to stand or walk. One day, as he was listening to the preaching, Paul looked intently at him and saw that he had the faith to be saved. So he said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And the man leaped up and began walking. When the people saw what Paul had done, they cried out in the language of Lycaonian, “The gods have come to us in human likeness!” They named Barnabas Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. Even the priest of the temple of Zeus, which stood outside the town, brought oxen and garlands to the gate; together with the people, he wanted to offer sacrifice to them. When Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their garments, to show their indignation, and rushed into the crowd, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are human beings, with the same weakness you have, and we are now telling you to turn away from these useless things, to the living God who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and all that is in them. In past generations, he allowed each nation to go its own way, though he never stopped making himself known; for he is continually doing good, giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, providing you with food, and filling your hearts with gladness.” Even these words could hardly keep the crowd from offering sacrifice to them.
Gospel: John 14:21-26
Whoever keeps my commandments is the one who loves me. If he loves me, he will also be loved by my Father; I too shall love him and show myself clearly to him.” Judas not Judas Iscariot asked Jesus, “Lord, how can it be that you will show yourself clearly to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him; and we will come to him and live with him. But if anyone does not love me, he will not keep my words; and these words that you hear are not mine, but the Father’s who sent me. I told you all this while I am still with you. From now on the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I have told you.
Reflection:
“Holiness is a journey.”
“We are human beings, with the same weakness you have…” There is a danger that we imagine the saints were sinless and flawless in character. However, that’s not the case. Apart from Our Lady, who was preserved from the stain of sin from the moment of her conception, all other saints have frequently professed their sins and called upon the mercy of God. The problem is in forgetting that holiness is a journey, one in which there are many ups and downs. The journey is traditionally called “the way of perfection.” In other words, rather than thinking of perfection in static, permanent terms, we should acknowledge that perfection or complete holiness is only found in the final glory of heaven. And so, we are called to grow in holiness, but we will trip over the obstacles of temptation at times and need Our Lord to raise us up. Yet, that doesn’t mean that we are separated from God, or cannot be his instruments, just as Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra. Through them God raised up the paralytic. Through us, despite our imperfections, God can work through us to lift up others, in body or spirit.
