6TH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Jesus said: ‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him.’ JN 14:23

ACTS 15:1-2,22-29

My Soul's Beloved,

You keep Your promise to the Church You founded and established on Peter, after he, inspired by the Holy Spirit, made his confession of faith, and You declared that Peter was the rock upon which You would build Your Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. We see this in action in the opening verses of today's first reading, this 6th Sunday after Easter. 

A dispute arose that threatened division about a particular Jewish tradition that some thought was necessary for salvation, while Paul and Barnabas vociferously argued was not. Instead of holding obstinately on to their opinion, they go to Peter, the Apostles, and elders to decide the matter. After lengthy discussions, a decision was made. Peter stood up and testified what God had revealed to him in a vision, and accordingly, it was agreed by all that circumcision was not a requirement for non-Jews to become Christian; Baptism was the only requirement.  A letter declaring, 'Accordingly we are sending you Judas and Silas, who will confirm by word of mouth what we have written in this letter. It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves not to saddle you with any burden beyond these essentials: you are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols; from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from fornication. Avoid these, and you will do what is right. Farewell,’ was given to them, and Paul and Barnabas, along with a delegation chosen by the Apostles, accompanied them back to Antioch, and this letter was read to the Christians there.

You handed to Peter and his successors the authority to bind and loose, and so it will be until You return. As St. Augustine said, 'Rome has spoken, the matter is settled.' Thank You, Lord, for Your wisdom in establishing the hierarchy in the Church to whom all Christians must submit as they would submit to You. This keeps Your Body united to her Head. Division is the work of Satan. His work is visible to anyone with a semblance of integrity to see. 

PSALM 66(67):2-3,5-6,8

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help.

Let the nations be glad and exult
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples,
you guide the nations on earth.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
May God still give us his blessing
till the ends of the earth revere him.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

REVELATION 21:10-14,22-23

JOHN  14:23-29