Daily Readings

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24 May 2022: Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

ACTS 16:22-34

The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake.

About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, “Do no harm to yourself; we are all here.” He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.” So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once. He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.

Responsorial Psalms: 138:1-2AB, 2CDE-3, 7C-8

Response: Your right-hand saves me, O Lord.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple, and give thanks to your name. Resp.:

Because of your kindness and your truth, you have made great above all things your name and your promise. When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. Resp.:

Your right-hand saves me. The LORD will complete what he has done for me; your kindness, O LORD, endures forever; forsake not the work of your hands. Resp.:

SECOND READING; REVELATIONS:  21:10-14, 22-23

The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a massive, high wall,

with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of the sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.

GOSPEL: JOHN 16:5-11

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.”

Daily Reflection: 24 May 2022

“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words!” – St. Francis of Assisi.

This saying of St. Francis comes to mind as we read today’s first reading. Paul and Silas are imprisoned after being stripped and beaten. In jail, they praise God and pray rather than complain and grumble. A terrible earthquake unfetters their chains and demolishes the prison, giving them a chance to escape but Paul and Silas choose not to. This choice exemplifies their innocence and doesn’t go unnoticed by the jailer who thinking that they had escaped, wanted to kill himself. Hearing Paul’s reassuring words, he is converted and asks, “What must I do to be saved?”

Oftentimes, our manner of living is the only Gospel that people will ever encounter. If our lives do not reflect the Good News, then we are Bad News and perhaps even counter-examples to Jesus.

As you go through this day and the week ahead, think of how you can reflect the Gospel in word and deed. Are you willing to be the living Gospel today?

Source: Official website of Archdiocese of Mumbai (archdioceseofbombay.org)