Monday of the 5th Week of Easter

• First Reading – Acts 14:5-18: Paul and Barnabas preach the Gospel in Lystra despite facing opposition and persecution and local people who mistake them for gods. Their preaching leads to the conversion of some, but also to their rejection by others.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 115: Not to us, but to Your name be the glory, O Lord, for Your love and faithfulness. Our God reigns in the heavens, distinct from lifeless idols, and blesses humanity.
• Gospel – John 14:21-26: Jesus tells His disciples that love and obedience to God’s commandments are inseparable and necessary for a true relationship with God. He promises to send the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, to guide and teach His disciples in His absence and to remind them of His teachings.

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name – he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.

John 14:26

The readings for Monday of the 5th Week of Easter focus on God’s power, His love, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They remind us to trust in His care and to respond to His call with faith and love.

• God’s Power Revealed: In the first reading, Paul and Barnabas perform a miracle, showing the power of God at work through them. This reminds us that God acts in the world to bring healing and hope.
• Misunderstanding and Idolatry: The people in the first reading mistake Paul and Barnabas for gods after witnessing the miracle. This shows how easily people can misinterpret the works of God when they lack understanding.
• Loving and Following Jesus: In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the importance of loving Him and keeping His commandments. This teaches us that love for God is shown in how we live and obey His word.
• The Gift of the Holy Spirit: Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will teach His followers and remind them of His words. This shows that God continues to guide us through the Spirit, helping us to live in faith.
• Faithful Witnesses: Paul and Barnabas remain humble and point people to the one true God. Their example reminds us to always give glory to God and to witness to His love and power.
• God’s Care for His People: Both readings highlight how God is active in the lives of His people. He works through His followers and sends the Holy Spirit to lead and strengthen us.

Monday of the 5th Week of Easter invites us to recognize God’s power, trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and live with love for Jesus. The readings encourage us to stay faithful and to share God’s message with humility and joy.

The readings for Monday of the 5th Week of Easter invite us to reflect on humility, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and our understanding of God’s works. Paul and Barnabas point people to God when misunderstood, showing the importance of giving Him credit for all good things. Jesus reassures His disciples that the Holy Spirit will guide and teach them, reminding us that we are never alone in our faith journey.

Misinterpreting God’s Works

In the first reading for Monday of the 5th Week of Easter, Paul and Barnabas heal a man, and the people mistake them for gods. This misunderstanding highlights how easily people can misinterpret the works of God when they lack knowledge of Him. The crowd’s reaction shows their limited understanding of God’s power and their tendency to focus on what they can see.

Paul and Barnabas immediately correct the crowd, pointing them to the one true God. They remind the people that the miracle is not their own work but God’s. This teaches us the importance of giving God the glory for all good things in our lives.

This reflection challenges us to consider how we recognize and respond to God’s works in our own lives. Do we give Him the credit, or do we let our focus remain on the visible world? Paul and Barnabas remind us to always point others to God and His goodness.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

In the Gospel for Monday of the 5th Week of Easter, Jesus promises His disciples that the Holy Spirit will guide them. The Spirit will teach them and remind them of His words, helping them to live faithfully. This promise shows that God continues to care for His people, even after Jesus returns to the Father.

The Holy Spirit is a gift to all who believe, helping us to understand God’s teachings and apply them to our lives. When we face challenges or uncertainty, the Spirit gives us strength and wisdom to follow the path of faith. Jesus’ promise reassures us that we are never alone in our journey.

This reflection invites us to think about how we listen to the Holy Spirit. Are we open to the Spirit’s guidance in our daily decisions? By trusting in the Holy Spirit, we can grow closer to God and live more faithfully.

Faith Requires Humility

Both the first reading and the Gospel for Monday of the 5th Week of Easter highlight the importance of humility in our faith. Paul and Barnabas respond humbly when the crowd praises them, giving credit to God alone. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds His followers to love Him by keeping His commandments, emphasizing a humble and obedient heart.

Humility helps us recognize that everything good comes from God. It allows us to put aside pride and focus on living according to His will. Whether through our actions or our prayers, humility keeps us grounded in faith.

This reflection reminds us to live with a humble spirit, giving glory to God in all things. Do we acknowledge His role in our successes? Humility helps us stay connected to God and keeps our faith strong.

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The reflections for Monday of the 5th Week of Easter call us to live with humility, trust in the Holy Spirit, and recognize God’s presence in our lives. May we follow the example of the disciples and always seek to glorify God in our actions and words.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit who guides and strengthens us. Teach us to live with humility and to give You glory for all good things in our lives. Help us to trust in Your presence and to follow Your will each day. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• How do you give glory to God for the good things in your life?
• In what ways do you listen for the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
• How does humility help you grow in your faith?
• What can you do to better recognize God’s works in your daily life?

Word on Fire: The Love That Connects

Bishop Robert Barron explains that the Holy Spirit, revealed in the Gospel, is essentially love. Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit represents the love shared between the Father and the Son, eternally moving between them. When the Holy Spirit lives within us, it guides us towards love.

This divine love connects us deeply with God, fulfilling Jesus’ words that He is in the Father, and we are united with Him. By following Jesus’ teachings and commands, we participate in this profound relationship of love, aiming to understand and embrace the universe’s dynamic nature as revealed through Christ.

What date is Monday of the 5th Week of Easter?

The next date is Monday May 19, 2025.

What are the Mass readings for Monday of the 5th Week of Easter?

The Mass readings for Monday May 19, 2025 are:
First Reading – Acts 14:5-18: Misunderstanding in Lystra
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 115: Give Glory to God
Gospel – John 14:21-26: Love, Obedience, and the Promise of the Holy Spirit

Why did the people in the first reading for Monday of the 5th Week of Easter think Paul and Barnabas were gods?

The people misunderstood the miracle they saw and thought Paul and Barnabas were gods. This shows how easily people can misinterpret God’s work when they lack knowledge of Him.

What does the first reading teach us about humility?

Paul and Barnabas quickly corrected the people and gave glory to God. This reminds us to stay humble and point others to God when good things happen through us.

What can we learn from Paul and Barnabas’ response to the crowd?

Paul and Barnabas remind us to always give glory to God and avoid taking credit for His work. Their humility is an example for us when others praise us.

What does Jesus mean when He says to keep His commandments?

Keeping Jesus’ commandments means living in a way that shows love for God and others. It is about following His teachings and living with kindness and obedience.

Why is the Holy Spirit important in the Gospel for Monday of the 5th Week of Easter?

The Holy Spirit helps Jesus’ followers understand His teachings and reminds them of His words. The Spirit is God’s way of continuing to guide and strengthen us.

What does the Gospel teach us about love for Jesus?

The Gospel teaches that love for Jesus is not just words but actions. Loving Him means living by His example and staying faithful to His teachings.

How can the Holy Spirit help us in our faith?

The Holy Spirit helps us understand God’s word, comforts us in hard times, and gives us courage to live as followers of Jesus. The Spirit is always with us.

What does it mean to love Jesus and keep His word in the Gospel for Monday of the 5th Week of Easter?

Loving Jesus means putting His teachings into practice and living in a way that honors Him. It is about letting our faith guide our actions every day.

How can we recognize God’s power in our lives?

We can see God’s power in the good things that happen and in moments of healing and peace. The readings encourage us to give thanks to God and trust in His care.

How do these readings for Monday of the 5th Week of Easter call us to trust in God?

The readings remind us that God works through His people and sends the Holy Spirit to guide us. They encourage us to trust in His care and follow Him with love and faith.