Catholic Sunday Mass Readings + Reflection, 1st May 2022

Sunday May 1, 2022

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER ( C )

V1-, R1-, R2-,

Office – Psalter Week 3, Te Deum

Mass prop. Gloria. Creed

Preface of Easter

Vestment: White

Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery

ST JOSEPH THE WORKER

Vespers II of the Third Sunday of Easter

ENUGU: Tomorrow is the 12th anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Most Revd Callistus V. Onaga, 2nd may 2009

Theme of the Sunday:

THE WORD OF THE RISEN LORD GUIDES THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.

The Risen Christ now lives with the Father, but he has not abandoned his disciples. He continues to be present and to direct their lives and work through his word. When Christian communities follow his counsel, the results are often extraordinary, represented in the gospel by the large quantity of fish caught by the disciples. In the second reading all creatures rejoice and praise Christ, because at last they can fulfil God’s plan for them. The first reading goes into the difficulties the Christian community must face to remain faithful to the Master.

THE GLORIA

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen

FIRST READING

“We are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit.”

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 5 :27b-32.40b-41)

In those days: The high priest questioned the apostles, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” And they charged the apostles not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the name.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 30:2 and 4.5-6.11- 12 and 13b (R. 2a)

R/. I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up.

Or: Alleluia.

I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up,

and have not let my enemies rejoice over me.

O Lord, you have lifted up my soul from the grave,

restored me to life from those who sink into the pit. R/.

Sing psalms to the Lord, you faithful ones;

give thanks to his holy name.

His anger lasts a moment; his favour all through life.

At night there are tears, but at dawn comes joy. R/.

R/. I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up.

Or: Alleluia.

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me;

be my helper, O Lord.

You have changed my mourning into dancing.

O Lord my God, I will thank you forever. R/.

SECOND READING

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth.”

A reading from the Book of Revelation (Revelation 5: 11-14)

I, John, looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, “To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might for ever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshipped.

The word of the Lord

Alleluia (Verse before the gospel)

Alleluia. Christ has risen, who created all things and has had mercy on the human race. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. ”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 21: 1 – 19)

At that time: Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.* When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you fastened your own belt and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will fasten your belt for you and bring you where you do not wish to go.” (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

THE CREED (I Believe)

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

We are witnesses to the resurrection.

PRIEST: My brothers and sisters, through our living faith in word and action, we are called to be witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us ask our heavenly Father to answer all our petitions, which we make in his Son’s name.

READER:

FOR THE CHURCH AND HER PEOPLE, (pause) may they be given greater courage to witness to the values of the gospel throughout the world. (pause) Father, hear our prayers; and make us your witnesses we pray Oh Lord.

FOR THE CHRISTIANS IN OUR GOVERNMENT, (pause) may they be sensitive to any attempts to destroy our Christian heritage, and may they be prepared to proclaim their belief in Christ, no matter how unpopular they become. (pause) Father, hear our prayers; and make us your witnesses we pray Oh Lord.

FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIAN, (pause) may they call on the Holy Spirit in their hour of need, and be glad, as the apostles were, to have the honour of suffering humiliation for Jesus’ sake. (pause) Father, hear our prayers; and make us your witnesses we pray Oh Lord.

FOR A POWERFUL WITNESS IN THIS COMMUNITY TO OUR FAITH (pause) may we support each other in love and prayer to cling to our faith, and help it to grow, so that our Christian witness in this place may never be found wanting. (pause) Father, hear our prayers; and make us your witnesses we pray Oh Lord.

In silence we pray to God our Father for our own special intentions.

PRIEST: Father, we make our prayers in faith, believing that your Spirit will give us the courage to be your witness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

By the power of the Holy Spirit, the light of the resurrection dispels the darkness of fear, filling us with the awesomeness of God. This sense of awe creates in us fear of the Lord, which is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Fear of the Lord makes us respect God and not want to offend him in any way. It is indeed the beginning of wisdom. The apostles were so filled with this sense of awe that none of them dared to ask the Lord anything. Fear of the Lord makes us bold witnesses of the Lord in all situations. The lack of fear of the Lord can make us put respect for human beings before our respect for God. It can also bring about a grave loss of our sense of the sacred, for example unworthily receiving Holy Communion.

PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL IN MAY

Day 1 May Devotion:

Mary and Joseph worked very hard supporting each other as they raised Jesus and in the end their efforts were rewarded with heavenly blessings.

You lose nothing when you offer your time, talent and treasure to support one another to make the world a better place.

MEDITATION: Matthew 13: 54-55

Let Us Pray,

Oh God, help me to be generous with my time and gifts so that together as a team with my brothers and sisters everywhere we can make You proud in Jesus name. Amen.

May God bless all the workers who are working hard to make our world a beautiful and happy place. Amen.