Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection (Homily Message): 14 May 2021
Mass Readings, Reflection – Homily for Friday May 14, 2021
Sixth Weekday of Easter (6)
Vestment: Red
Today’s Rosary: Sorrowful Mystery
9-DAYS NOVENA WITH FASTING AND PRAYERS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PREPARATION FOR PENTECOST
(Friday May 14 – May 23 2021)
DAY 1 : “I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT”
Entrance Antiphon Jn 15:16
It was not you who chose me, says the Lord, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last (E.T. alleluia).
Collect
O God, who assigned Saint Matthias a place in the college of Apostles, grant us, through his intercession, that rejoicing at how your love has been allotted to us, we may merit to be numbered among the elect. Through our Lord. . .
FIRST READING
“The lot fell on Matthias, and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:15-17, 20-26)
In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said, “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was 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, ‘Let his habitation become desolate and let there be no one to live in it’; and ‘His office let another take.’ 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 surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, 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 enrolled with the eleven apostles.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm113:lb-2.3-4.5-6.7-8 (R. see 8)
R/. The Lord made them sit with the princes of his people.
Or: Alleluia.
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blest
both now and for evermore! R.
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
praised be the name of the LORD!
High above all nations is the Lord,
above the heavens his glory. R.
who is like the Lord, our God,
who dwells on high
who lowers himself to look down
upon heaven and earth? R.
From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the ash heap he raises the poor,
to set them in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people. R.
ALLELUIA John 15:16
Alleluia. I chose you from the world that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit shall abide, says the Lord. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“You did not choose me, but I chose you.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (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 man than this, that a man 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. This I command you, to love one another.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Every good position is a choice of God. It is a call and choice of God. He chooses one person for one thing and another for something else. He picks one from the dust and sets him in the company of princes. He gives hope to the hopeless. The Psalmist tells us that “He [God] raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people” (Psalm 113:7-8). He picked Matthias from the crowd and made him an apostle when the apostles prayed. Let us thank God for making us friends. Let us make more friends for Jesus.
SAINT MATTHIAS.
St Matthias was chosen to become one of the Twelve in place of Judas who had committed suicide. The account of his election, found in the Acts of the Apostles (today’s first reading), highlights the important role of the apostles as ‘witnesses of the resurrection.’ In fact our Christian faith is rooted in the resurrection of the Lord and our preaching and witness must always spring from this mystery of our faith.
Personal Devotional: Day 14 May Devotion
God’s choice is always the best at all times and when you let God do what He wants with you, it will not only be perfect, but more importantly, it will bring joy to your heart.
When God chose our Mother Mary to be the channel through which His only begotten Son will come into the world, He did not make a mistake, because Mary said yes to Him and that brought tremendous blessings to the world. God did not make a mistake to choose you, therefore, say yes to Him as our Mother Mary did and you will become a channel through which He will do great things in our world. Make yourself available for God so that he will make use of you for the good of humanity.
Meditation: John 15:9-17
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you have chosen me to go out and bear fruit for you. Help me to always say yes to you and may I become a channel through which your grace and blessings will come upon those who come in contact with me. Amen. And May the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
9-DAYS NOVENA WITH FASTING AND PRAYERS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
IN PREPARATION FOR PENTECOST
Friday May 14 – May 23 2021
DAY 1 : “I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT”
INTRODUCTION – As we begin our Novena to the Holy Spirit, let us be aware that we are the Church. It is in the assembly of God’s people where the Holy Spirit makes Himself known. This is an assembly of God’s people with Jesus as our Head. As we become aware of being God’s people, we also become aware of our many failures to live up to our calling, our selfishness, our lack of love and concern for people in our family and among our neighbours and friends. We, therefore, begin by asking pardon of God for our many failures to be truly God’s people.
PRAYER POINT: Dear Lord Jesus, I ask you to send forth the power of the Holy Spirit into the lives of everyone in our parish community and all of us using this 365 Readings App. If any members of the clergy are ensnared with the sins of clericalism, legalism, hypocrisy, spiritual pride, complacency, teaching false doctrines, exhibiting pharisaic attitudes, or displaying an outward form of godliness while inwardly denying your power, I ask you to send forth the gift of your Holy Spirit’s conviction. If any member of the laity is polluting the spiritual atmosphere of the church through their sins of idol worship, clergy worship, superstitious behaviours, complacency, spiritual stagnation, legalism, materialism, gossip, judgmental or pharisaic attitudes, I ask you to send forth the power of your Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins. Gently lead all sinners back into a state of grace where they can authentically connect and commune with you in spirit and in truth. Please purify the spiritual atmosphere and airspace that surrounds your sacred assembly. Cleanse the congregation so that your Holy Spirit may dwell inside the lives and hearts of all your beloved children. May the grandeur of your holy presence be so profoundly encountered within your courts that all your children will be ignited with a fervent passion to serve you all the days of their lives. I ask this through my Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
1. OPENING HYMN (Hymn to the Holy Spirit)
Invocation of the Holy Spirit
Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
V. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created
R. And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Let Us pray:
O God, who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation, Through Christ Our Lord.
R/. Amen
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (7x)
2. ACT OF CONTRITION – O my God, I am sorry and beg pardon for all my sins, and detest them above all things, because they have crucified my loving Saviour Jesus Christ, and, most of all, because they offend your infinite goodness; and I firmly resolve, by the help of your grace, never to offend you again, and carefully to avoid the occasion of sin.
3. PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST: (To be recited daily during the Novena)
O LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who before ascending into Heaven didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish Thy work in the souls of Thine Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Thy Divine truth; the Spirit of Counsel, that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven; the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with Thee and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints; the Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable; the Spirit of Fear, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, Dear Lord, with the sign of Thy true disciples, and animate me in all things with Thy Spirit. Amen.
4. PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT:
Breathe into me Holy Spirit that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit that my work too, may be holy.
Attract my heart Holy Spirit that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me Holy Spirit that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit that I may always be holy.
5. BIBLE READING (1 Cor. 2:9-12 )
6. LET US PRAY:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I know that my body is Your Temple. I believe and trust that You are the source of life, Almighty God, our Creator. My whole body is filled with Your life and love. Lord Jesus, touch me with Your Precious Blood and wash away all my sins.
I ask Your forgiveness for every sin of mine. Heal me of all the hurts, anger, guilt feelings and all painful memories that linger in my deepest being. I have sinned, Lord, against You and against my neighbour. Jesus, You are present in the Eucharist. Lord, do come into my heart. While You are in my heart, I have nothing to fear, for You are the Son of God, and in my heart You are near.
In You is life, and in Your life, Lord Jesus, I find life. You touched the bleeding woman and healed her. Have mercy on me, Lord. It is You Who guide me with Your strength and make me righteous in Your presence. Lord, God, You are almighty. You are merciful. You have touched me and healed me of all my ailments of soul, mind and body. I thank You specially for bringing me closer to You, for loving and protecting me and for healing me completely. With deep faith in my heart, I adore You my loving Jesus Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit are God for ever and ever. Amen.
7. Closing / Concluding Hymn