Mass Readings for May 23, 2025

Acts 15:22-31
Psalms 57:8-10, 12
John 15:12-17

Acts 15:22-31
(22) Then it pleased the Apostles and elders, with the whole Church, to choose men from among them, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, and Judas, who was surnamed Barsabbas, and Silas, preeminent men among the brothers (23) what was written by their own hands: “The Apostles and elders, brothers, to those who are at Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, brothers from the Gentiles, greetings (24) Since we have heard that some, going out from among us, have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, to whom we gave no commandment (25) it pleased us, being assembled as one, to choose men and to send them to you, with our most beloved Barnabas and Paul (26) men who have handed over their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (27) Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, with the spoken word, reaffirm to you the same things (28) For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose no further burden upon you, other than these necessary things (29) that you abstain from things immolated to idols, and from blood, and from what has been suffocated, and from fornication. You will do well to keep yourselves from these things. Farewell. (30) And so, having been dismissed, they went down to Antioch. And gathering the multitude together, they delivered the epistle (31) And when they had read it, they were gladdened by this consolation

Psalms 57:8-10, 12
(8) They will come to nothing, like water flowing away. He has aimed his bow, while they are being weakened (9) Like wax that flows, they will be carried away. Fire has fallen upon them, and they will not see the sun (10) Before your thorns could know the brier, he consumes them alive, as if in rage (12) And man will say, “If the just one is fruitful, then, truly, there is a God judging them on earth.

John 15:12-17
(12) This is my precept: that you love one another, just as I have loved you (13) No one has a greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends (14) You are my friends, if you do what I instruct you (15) I will no longer call you servants, for the servant does not know what his Lord is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything whatsoever that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you (16) You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. And I have appointed you, so that you may go forth and bear fruit, and so that your fruit may last. Then whatever you have asked of the Father in my name, he shall give to you (17) This I command you: that you love one another