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Catholic Reflections Daily: Today’s Mass readings Acts 13:13-25; John 13:16-20. Gospel Theme of the day is So that you may learn!

Catholic Daily Readings For Today

The Reading Texts is according to the USCCB Lectionary

First Reading

Acts 13:13-25

13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14 They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered [into] the synagogue and took their seats. 15 After the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue officials sent word to them, “My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”

16 So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out of it 18 and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert. 19 When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance 20 at the end of about four hundred and fifty years. After these things he provided judges up to Samuel [the] prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king. God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 Then he removed him and raised up David as their king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’ 23 From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. 24 John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; 25 and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27

Response: For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or: Alleluia.

Gospel

John 13:16-20

16 Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. 18 I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.’ 19 From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. 20 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

Powerful Catholic Reflections Daily

Title: So that you may learn!

Indicative: Human intelligence and competence may assist us and carry us ahead for a while. But they will not last long and reach us long when they are devoid of God’s grace and guidance

1.      Often in life, we see many capable and talented. They rise high and ride high for some time. But when they are not humble and begin to act with pride, when they are not docile to God and surrender to Him, sooner or later they will fall and fail.

2.      This is all because no servant is greater than the master, and no messenger is greater than the sender. Jesus, the Master himself, makes himself a servant to all and serves others. Are we greater than our master? The problem with many disciples is they forget their real identity of being servants and behave like masters.

3.      A good servant remembers always that he is a servant and messenger. His life becomes authentic when he becomes an effective channel of service and message. Jesus says, if you know these things and do them, you are blessed.

4.      Paul and Co. knew these things and they did them. They tirelessly spread the message of Christ and served others. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul in his preaching gives a quick rundown of the salvation history leading to Jesus. However, it is not a mere chronological summary. It is a powerful message of God’s grace and human response and involvement.

Imperative: Many disciples of Christ would do better if they stop trying desperately to become masters in various fields. Instead, it is better that they become better servants!