The meaning of the Sunday Mass Readings for May 2024 is made clearest by Catholic Doctrine. Doctrines are the essentially unchangeable clarifications of Revelation and Faith that only the pope and bishops (together, the Magisterium) have the God-given authority to make and that must be accepted as objectively true in order to be Catholic. Although this definition has been formulated by me, I believe it is in harmony with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, e.g., 85-90, 94-95 and 888-892; the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith’s “Doctrinal Commentary on the Concluding Formula of Professio Fidei”; Avery Cardinal Dulles’ Magisterium: Teacher and Guardian of the Faith (Sapientia Press, 2007); and John A. Hardon’s Pocket Catholic Dictionary (Doubleday Image Books, 1985).
Let’s learn the always-true doctrines in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that we can take away from this May’s Sunday Readings.[i]
May 5, The Sixth Sunday of Easter
The Catechism cites words from today’s Gospel to teach us where to find the real meaning of love: Jesus “makes manifest the Father’s love.” Furthermore, His disciples should “imitate the love of Jesus” (CCC 1823[ii]). They do this by having the virtue of charity “by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God” (CCC 1822). Love is “to will the good of another” (CCC 1766), not to give others what they want, no matter how sincerely they want it, unless what they want is good.
- From the First Reading[iii] (Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48): Acts 10:352 is cited in CCC 761; and Acts 10:48 in CCC 126.
- From the Second Reading (1 John 4:7-10): 1 Jn 4:8 is cited in CCC 214, 221, 733, and 1604; 1 Jn 4:9 in CCC 458 and 516; and 1 Jn 4:10 in CCC 457, 604, 614, 620, and 1428.
- From the Alleluia (John 14:23): Jn 14:23 is cited in CCC 260.
- From the Gospel (John 15:9-17): Jn 15:9-10 is cited in CCC 1824; Jn 15:9 in CCC 1823; Jn 15:12 in CCC 459, 1823, 1970, and 2074; Jn 15:13 in CCC 363, 609, and 614; Jn 15:15 in CCC 1972 and 2347; Jn 15:16-17 in CCC 2745; and Jn 15:16 in CCC 434, 737, 2615, and 2815.
May 9, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
The First Reading and the Gospel Reading report Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven and His parting words to the Eleven Apostles. The “historical and transcendent event of the Ascension” (CCC 660) is “the irreversible entry of [Jesus’] humanity into divine glory” (CCC 659). In other words, Jesus ascended with the glorified body He had from the moment of His Resurrection. When Jesus physically left the world, He did not stop having the glorified body He had at His Resurrection. He still has and will always have a glorified body. As we saw on the Fifth Sunday of Lent and on the Second Sunday of Easter, eternity involves a soul united with a body transformed to remain physical and yet transcend space and time – not only for Jesus but also for all at His Second Coming whether they enter the Kingdom or Hell.
- From the First Reading (Acts 1:1-11): Acts 1:1-2 is cited in CCC 512; Acts 1:3 in CCC 659; Acts 1:6-7 in CCC 672; Acts 1:7 in CCC 474 and 673; Acts 1:8 in CCC 672, 730, 735, 857, and 1287; Acts 1:9 in CCC 659 and 697; Acts 1:10-11 in CCC 333; Acts 1:11 in CCC 665.
- From the Second Reading (Ephesians 1:17-23): Eph 1:16-23 is cited in CCC 2632; Eph 1:18 in CCC 158; Eph 1:19-22 in CCC 272 and 648; Eph 1:20-22 in CCC 668; Eph 1:22-23 in CCC 830; and Eph 1:22 in CCC 669, 753, and 2045.
- From the Alleluia (Matthew 28:19a, 20b): Mt 28:19 is cited in CCC 189, 232, 543, 691, 730, 831, 1122, and 2156; and Mt 28:20 in CCC 80, 788, 860, and 2743.
- From the Gospel (Mark 16:15-20): Mk 16:15-16 is cited in CCC 977 and 1223; Mk 16:15 in CCC 888; Mk 16:16 in CCC 161, 183, 1253, 1256, and 1257; Mk 16:17-18 in CCC 670 and 1507; Mk 16:17 in CCC 434 and 1673; Mk 16:18 in CCC 699; Mk 16:19 in CCC 659; and Mk 16:20 in CCC 2, 156, and 670.
May 12, The Seventh Sunday of Easter
Jesus’ words about truth in today’s Gospel are used by the Catechism to teach the doctrines that “[i]n Jesus Christ, the whole of God’s truth has been made manifest” and that “[t]he disciple of Jesus continues in his word so as to know ‘the truth that will make you free’ and that sanctifies” (CCC 2466). The best way to continue in Jesus’ word is found in Catholic Doctrine.
- From the First Reading (Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26): Acts 1:22 is cited in CCC 523, 535, 642, and 995.
- From the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20): Ps 103:20 is cited in CCC 329.
- From the Second Reading (1 John 4:11-16): 1 Jn 4:11-12 is cited in CCC 735; 1 Jn 4:14 in CCC 457; and 1 Jn 4:16 in CCC 221, 733, and 1604.
- From the Alleluia (John 14:18): Jn 14:18 is cited in CCC 788.
- From the Gospel (John 17: 11b-19): Jn 17:11 is cited in CCC 2747, 2749, 2750, 2815, and 2849; Jn 17:12 in CCC 2750; Jn 17:13 in CCC 2747 and 2749; Jn 17:15 in CCC 2750 and 2850; Jn 17:17-19 in CCC 2812; Jn 17:17 in CCC 2466; Jn 17:18 in CCC 858; and Jn 17:19 in CCC 611, 2747, 2749, and 2812.
May 18, Pentecost Sunday at the Vigil Mass
The Catechism cites today’s Gospel Reading to give us a tremendous definition of prayer: “Prayer is the response of faith to the free promise of salvation and also a response of love to the thirst of the only Son of God [for our love]” (CCC 2561).
With the Extended Form, there are four First Readings and four Responsorial Psalms:
- From First Reading 1 (Genesis 11:1-9): Gn 11:4-6 is cited in CCC 57.
- From First Reading 2 – (Exodus 19:3-8a, 16-20b): Ex 19:5-6 is cited in CCC 709, 762, and 2810; Ex 19:6 in CCC 63 and 1539; and Ex 19:16-25 in CCC 2085.
- From First Reading 3 – (Ezekiel 37:1-14): Ez 37:1-14 is cited in CCC 715; and Ez 37:10 in CCC 703.
- From First Reading 4 – (Joel 3:1-5): Jl 3:1-5 is cited in CCC 715; and Jl 3:1-2 in CCC 1287.
- From the Responsorial Psalm 4 (Psalms 104:1-2, 24, 35, 27-28, 29-30): Ps 104:24 is cited in CCC 295.
With the Simple Form, a First Reading is chosen from among the above First Readings, and Responsorial Psalm 4 is used.
- From the Second Reading (Romans 8:22-27): Rom 8:22 is cited in CCC 2630; Rom 8:23-24 in CCC 2630; Rom 8:23 in CCC 735; Rom 8:26-27 in CCC 2634; Rom 8:26 in CCC 741, 2559, 2630, and 2736; and Rom 8:27 in CCC 2543, 2736, and 2766.
- From the Gospel (John 7:37-39): Jn 7:37-39 is cited in CCC 728, 1287, and 2561; Jn 7:38-39 in CCC 1999; Jn 7:38 in CCC 694; and Jn 7:39 in CCC 244 and 690.
May 19, Pentecost Sunday – Mass during the Day
One sentence in the Catechism cites verses from the First Reading and the Gospel Reading and so ties together these two accounts: “On several occasions, Christ promised this outpouring of the Spirit [prophesied in Ezekiel 36:25-27 and Joel 3:1-2], a promise which he fulfilled first on Easter Sunday and then more strikingly at Pentecost” (CCC 1287).
The meaning of Jesus sending the Apostles, giving them the Holy Spirit, and giving them the authority to forgive sins in today’s Gospel is that “[t]he saving mission entrusted by the Father to his incarnate Son was committed to the apostles and through them to their successors [who are the bishops]” (CCC 1120). Unlike Protestant Christianity, but like Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Catholic Christianity has bishops who were ordained by bishops in an unbroken chain of ordination of bishops going back to the Twelve Apostles who ordained the first bishops. This reality is called Apostolic Succession. See CCC 77, 861, and 1087.
- From the First Reading (Acts 2:1-11): Acts 2:1-4 is cited in CCC 1287; Acts 2:1 in CCC 2623; Acts 2:3-4 in CCC 696; and Acts 2:11 in CCC 1287.
- From the Responsorial Psalm (Psalms 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34): Ps 104:24 is cited in CCC 295; and Ps 104:30 in CCC 292 and 703.
- From the Second Reading (1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13): 1 Cor 12:3 is cited in CCC 152, 449, 455, 683, 2670, and 2681; 1 Cor 12:4-6 in CCC 249; 1 Cor 12:6 in CCC 308; 1 Cor 12:7 in CCC 801 and 951; and 1 Cor 12:13 in CCC 694, 790, and 798.
- From the Gospel (John 20:19-23): Jn 20:19 is cited in CCC 575, 643, 645, and 659; Jn 20:20 in CCC 645; Jn 20:21-23 in CCC 1087, 1120, and 1441; Jn 20:21 in CCC 730 and 858; Jn 20:22-23 in CCC 976 and 1485; Jn 20:22 in CCC 730, 788, and 1287; and Jn 20:23 in CCC 1461 and 2839.
May 26, Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
On this Solemnity, it is most appropriate to recall that “[t]he mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life.” (CCC 234).
Jesus’ command in today’s Gospel to make disciples of all nations by baptizing and by teaching them means that “the Church must be missionary” (CCC 851). The Catholic Church should try to convert the entire world to the Catholic Faith (CCC 2, 543, 767, 849, 1122, 1223, 1276). See also CCC 846-856.
“Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament” (CCC 1257). This means Baptism is not necessary in some cases. See CCC 1257-1261. Of special concern might be children who die without Baptism. About them, the Catechism says “the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God . . . Jesus’ tenderness toward children” (CCC 1261).
Some specific ways that Christ is with us until the end of the age is in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition (CCC 80), through the Holy Spirit (CCC 788), in Apostolic Succession (CCC 860), and while praying (CCC 2743).
- From the Responsorial Psalm (Psalms 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22): Ps 33:6 is cited in CCC 292 and 703.
- From the Second Reading (Romans 8:14-17): Rom 8:14-17 is cited in CCC 1996; Rom 8:14 in CCC 259, 693, 1831, and 2543; Rom 8:15 in CCC 257, 693, 1303, 1972, and 2777; Rom 8:16 in CCC 2639; and Rom 8:17 in CCC 1265, 1460, and 1831.
- From the Alleluia (Revelation 1:8): Rev 1:8 is cited in CCC 2854.
- From the Gospel (Matthew 28:16-20): Mt 28:16-20 is cited in CCC 857 and 1444; Mt 28:16-17 in CCC 645; Mt 28:17 in CCC 644; Mt 28:18-20 in CCC 1120; Mt 28:19-20 in CCC 2, 767, 849, 1223, 1257, and 1276; Mt 28:19 in CCC 189, 232, 543, 691, 730, 831, 1122, and 2156; and Mt 28:20 in CCC 80, 788, 860, and 2743.
[i] There are too many citations, or references, in the Catechism to the verses in a month of Sunday Mass readings to identify all the pertinent doctrines, so I will use my best judgment to select which verses and doctrines to cover in a column that may not exceed 2,000 words. The bullet points allow you to explore further the Biblical basis of Catholic Doctrine.
[ii] CCC abbreviates Catechism of the Catholic Church. Any number after it is the number of a paragraph in the Catechism. For example, “CCC 1823” means paragraph 1823 of the Catechism.
[iii] If a Reading is not listed, then none of its verses is cited by the CCC.
The post The Sunday Readings and Catholic Doctrine for May 2024 appeared first on Catholic Stand.
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Author: Marty Dybicz
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