Up next in 10
Daily Gospel - Sunday, May 25, 2025 - John 14:23-29 - Catholic Bible
2 views
Jun 6, 2025
Welcome to our daily encounter with the Word of God! Today, we reflect on the powerful messages from the day’s readings: Acts of the Apostles (Acts 15:1-2,22-29), the Book of Revelation (Revelation 21:10-14,22-23), and the Gospel according to John (John 14:23-29). These passages speak to us of unity, eternal hope, and the promise of the Holy Spirit as our Advocate. First Reading (Acts 15:1-2,22-29): In this passage, the early Church faces a moment of discernment. Questions arise about the Mosaic Law, and the apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit, make a decision rooted in unity and wisdom, sending a letter to encourage and strengthen the Gentile believers. This teaches us the value of community discernment and spiritual guidance. God desires a united Church, one that listens to the Spirit in humility and love. Second Reading (Revelation 21:10-14,22-23): John shares a vision of the new Jerusalem, the holy city descending from heaven. It needs no temple, for God and the Lamb are its sanctuary. The glory of God gives it light—there is no need for sun or moon. A powerful image of hope and eternity, reminding us of our true destiny with God, in light and peace. Gospel (John 14:23-29): Jesus reminds us that whoever loves Him will keep His word. He promises that the Father will dwell in the hearts of believers. Before departing, Jesus gives us His peace—not as the world gives, but the deep peace of the Holy Spirit, who teaches and reminds us of His words. This Gospel is a source of comfort and trust. Even in trials, the Spirit within us brings strength and guidance. Reflection and Call to Unity and Faith Today’s readings call us to peace, fidelity, and spiritual communion. Let us walk in the light of the Spirit until we reach the promised new Jerusalem.
View Video Transcript
0:04
[Music]
0:07
reading from the Acts of the Apostles in
0:10
those days some men came from Judea and
0:13
taught the brothers in Antioch saying
0:15
"Unless you are circumcised as the law
0:17
of Moses requires you cannot be saved."
0:21
This caused much confusion and Paul and
0:24
Barnabas had a great discussion with
0:26
them finally they decided that Paul
0:29
Barnabas and some others should go to
0:31
Jerusalem to discuss this matter with
0:33
the apostles and elders then the
0:35
apostles and elders with a whole
0:37
community in Jerusalem decided to choose
0:40
some from the community and send them to
0:41
Antioch with Paul and Barnabas they
0:44
chose Judas called Barabus and Silas who
0:47
were highly respected by the brothers
0:50
through them they sent the following
0:51
letter we the apostles and elders your
0:55
brothers greet the pagan brothers in
0:57
Antioch and the regions of Syria and
0:59
Salicitia we have heard that some of our
1:01
people have stirred up trouble with
1:03
words that have upset your minds they
1:05
were not sent by us so we decided by
1:08
common consent to choose some
1:09
representatives and send them to you
1:11
along with our dear brothers Barnabas
1:13
and Paul men who risked their lives for
1:16
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
1:18
therefore we are sending Judas and Silas
1:21
who will personally deliver the same
1:22
message to you for the Holy Spirit and
1:25
we have decided not to burden you with
1:27
anything other than these essentials
1:29
abstain from food sacrificed to idols
1:32
from blood from the meat of strangled
1:34
animals and from sexual immorality you
1:36
will do well if you avoid these things
1:39
greetings the word of the Lord thanks be
1:43
to God
1:46
[Music]
1:53
reading from the book of Revelation by
1:55
St john an angel carried me away in the
1:58
spirit to a great and high mountain he
2:01
showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming
2:03
down out of heaven from God shining with
2:06
the glory of God its splendor was like
2:09
that of a very precious stone like
2:11
jasper clear as crystal it was
2:14
surrounded by a massive and high wall
2:16
with 12 gates at the gates stood 12
2:19
angels and on the gates were written the
2:21
names of the 12 tribes of Israel there
2:24
were three gates on the east three on
2:26
the north three on the south and three
2:29
on the west the wall of the city had 12
2:32
foundations and on them were written the
2:34
names of the twel apostles of the Lamb i
2:37
saw no temple in the city for its temple
2:40
is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb
2:42
the city has no need of the sun or the
2:44
moon to shine on it for the glory of God
2:47
is its light and its lamp is the lamb
2:50
the word of the Lord thanks be to
2:55
[Music]
3:01
God proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus
3:04
Christ according to St john glory to you
3:07
Lord at that time Jesus said to his
3:10
disciples "If anyone loves me he will
3:13
keep my word and my father will love him
3:15
and we will come to him and make our
3:17
home with him whoever does not love me
3:19
does not keep my word and the word you
3:22
hear is not mine but the fathers who
3:25
sent me." These are the words I spoke to
3:27
you while I was still with you but the
3:30
advocate the Holy Spirit whom the Father
3:32
will send in my name he will teach you
3:35
everything and remind you of everything
3:36
I have said to you peace I leave with
3:38
you my peace I give to you but I do not
3:42
give it as the world does do not let
3:44
your hearts be troubled or afraid you
3:47
have heard that I said to you I am going
3:49
away and will come back to you if you
3:52
loved me you would rejoice because I am
3:54
going to the Father for the Father is
3:57
greater than I i have told you this now
3:59
before it happens so that when it does
4:02
happen you will believe the word of the
4:04
salvation glory to you
4:08
[Music]
4:15
Lord dear brothers and sisters in Christ
4:19
imagine that you are building a house
4:22
you have the plans carefully drawn up
4:24
the materials selected the foundation
4:26
laid but suddenly someone comes along
4:29
and says "No no you need to use
4:32
completely different bricks follow a
4:34
completely new design
4:36
what would you do would you resist
4:38
change or would you be open to a new
4:40
vision this tension between tradition
4:43
and renewal between the familiar and the
4:45
transformative permeates all of our
4:47
readings today inviting us to reflect on
4:50
how God builds his kingdom in our lives
4:52
and in our world in the first reading
4:54
from the Acts of the Apostles we witness
4:57
a pivotal moment in the history of the
4:59
early church some men from Judea were
5:01
teaching "Unless you are circumcised
5:04
according to the custom of Moses you
5:06
cannot be saved." What a categorical
5:09
statement to them the path to God
5:12
necessarily passed through ancient
5:14
Jewish traditions imagine the uproar
5:17
this caused paul and Barnabas who had
5:20
witnessed Gentiles receiving the Holy
5:22
Spirit without circumcision got into a
5:25
great debate with these men this was no
5:28
small matter the very future of the
5:30
church was at stake was it a reformed
5:33
Jewish sect or something truly new and
5:35
universal the answer came through the
5:38
first council of Jerusalem and what a
5:41
magnificent answer the apostles and
5:43
elders after much prayer and
5:45
deliberation declared "It seemed good to
5:48
the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon
5:50
you no greater burden than these
5:52
necessary things." What an extraordinary
5:55
statement they recognized that it was
5:57
not just them making a human decision
5:59
but that the Holy Spirit himself was
6:01
guiding the church to a new
6:03
understanding this decision was
6:05
revolutionary it opened the doors of
6:08
salvation to all peoples not just Jews
6:12
it declared that in Christ there is
6:13
neither Jew nor Greek there is neither
6:16
slave nor free there is neither male nor
6:18
female all are one in Christ Jesus but
6:22
look how they came to this decision it
6:24
wasn't through an impulsive change or a
6:27
complete abandonment of tradition it was
6:29
through prayer discussion and spiritual
6:32
discernment they carefully weighed the
6:35
evidence of God's work among the
6:37
Gentiles they remembered the promises of
6:40
scripture most importantly they sought
6:43
the guidance of the Holy Spirit what a
6:45
powerful lesson for us today in a time
6:48
of rapid and constant change how do we
6:51
discern between changes that are from
6:52
God and changes that are merely cultural
6:54
or even harmful the answer lies in the
6:57
same process we see in Acts prayer
7:00
community spiritual discernment and
7:03
always keeping our eyes fixed on the
7:04
person and teachings of Jesus Christ
7:07
turning to the second reading from
7:09
Revelation we are transported to a
7:11
glorious vision of the new Jerusalem
7:14
john sees the holy city New Jerusalem
7:17
coming down out of heaven from God
7:19
prepared as a bride adorned for her
7:22
husband what a stunning image this is
7:25
not simply a description of the distant
7:27
future but a revelation of God's eternal
7:30
plan the city has 12 gates named after
7:33
the 12 tribes of Israel and 12
7:36
foundations named after the 12 apostles
7:39
see the continuity here the new does not
7:42
enul the old but completes and
7:44
transforms it and John tells us
7:47
something amazing i saw no temple in it
7:50
for the Lord God Almighty and the lamb
7:52
are its temple what does this mean in
7:55
the old system there was a separation
7:58
between the sacred and the common
7:59
between the temple and the everyday
8:01
world but in the new reality that God is
8:04
creating everything is sacred because
8:06
God dwells among his people the city has
8:09
no need of the sun or of the moon to
8:11
shine on it for the glory of God gives
8:13
it light and the lamb is its lamp what a
8:16
powerful image we do not need external
8:19
sources of light because the very
8:21
presence of God is our illumination now
8:24
let's go back to the gospel where we
8:26
find Jesus talking about another divine
8:28
dwelling place if anyone loves me he
8:31
will keep my word and my father will
8:33
love him and we will come to him and
8:35
make our home with him what an
8:37
extraordinary promise jesus is not
8:40
talking about a one-time encounter with
8:42
God but about a permanent dwelling the
8:45
same God who will fully inhabit the new
8:47
Jerusalem already wants to dwell in our
8:50
hearts today but notice the condition if
8:53
anyone loves me he will keep my word
8:56
genuine love for Jesus is manifested in
8:59
obedience to his teachings it is not a
9:02
legalistic fear-based obedience but a
9:05
loving response from a transformed heart
9:08
jesus continues "But the comforter which
9:10
is the Holy Spirit whom the Father will
9:12
send in my name he will teach you all
9:15
things and bring to your remembrance all
9:17
that I have said to you." Here is the
9:20
key to our discernment the same Holy
9:22
Spirit who guided the apostles in
9:24
Jerusalem is the one who guides us today
9:27
he teaches us reminds us of Jesus
9:30
teachings and empowers us to live as
9:32
children of God but perhaps the most
9:35
comforting part of Jesus message is this
9:37
peace I leave with you my peace I give
9:40
to you i do not give to you as the world
9:42
gives let not your hearts be troubled
9:45
neither let them be afraid in a world
9:48
filled with anxiety fear and uncertainty
9:52
Jesus offers us his peace it is not the
9:55
absence of problems or conflicts but a
9:57
deep tranquility that comes from knowing
9:59
that we are in God's hands my dear
10:02
brothers and sisters what a powerful
10:04
message emerges from the union of these
10:06
three readings we see that God is
10:09
constantly doing new things but always
10:11
in continuity with his eternal plan of
10:14
salvation we see that he desires to
10:16
dwell with us not only in the glorious
10:19
future but here and now in our hearts
10:22
how do we apply these truths to our
10:24
lives today first we must be open to the
10:28
renewing work of the Holy Spirit just as
10:31
the early church had to expand its
10:32
understanding to include the Gentiles we
10:35
may need to be open to new ways in which
10:37
God works in our time this does not mean
10:39
abandoning fundamental truths of the
10:41
faith but being willing to let the Holy
10:44
Spirit guide us to a deeper
10:45
understanding and new applications of
10:47
these eternal truths second we must
10:50
cultivate the God's presence in our
10:52
lives jesus promises to make his home in
10:55
us what an extraordinary reality this
10:59
means that every moment of our lives can
11:01
be a sacred encounter every decision can
11:04
be made in consultation with the one who
11:06
dwells within us third we must seek and
11:09
share the peace of Christ in a divided
11:12
and anxious world we are called to be
11:14
bearers of the peace of Christ not a
11:17
superficial peace that ignores problems
11:19
but the deep peace that comes from
11:21
knowing that God is in control and that
11:22
his love never fails fourth we must live
11:26
in anticipation of future glory the
11:29
vision of the new Jerusalem is not
11:31
escapism but hope that transforms how we
11:34
live today knowing where we are going we
11:37
can face present difficulties with
11:39
courage and perseverance imagine what it
11:41
would be like if each of us lived fully
11:43
in these realities if we truly recognize
11:46
that God dwells within us how would that
11:49
change our words our actions our
11:51
thoughts if we truly experience the
11:54
peace of Christ how would that transform
11:56
our anxiety our fears our way of facing
12:00
challenges if if we lived in the hope of
12:02
future glory how would that change our
12:04
priorities our values our perspective on
12:08
temporary difficulties dear brothers and
12:10
sisters today we are invited to open our
12:13
hearts so that the father and the son
12:15
may dwell within us we are invited to
12:17
receive the comforter the Holy Spirit
12:20
who will teach and guide us we are
12:23
invited to receive the peace of Christ
12:25
that surpasses all understanding may we
12:28
be like that new Jerusalem a place where
12:30
God dwells fully where his glory is our
12:33
light where his presence transforms
12:35
everything around us may our lives be a
12:38
living testimony that the kingdom of God
12:40
is already present among us even as we
12:42
await its final consummation and may the
12:45
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love
12:48
of God the Father and the fellowship of
12:50
the Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts
12:52
today tomorrow and forever
12:56
[Music]
13:04
amen st michael the Archangel defend us
13:07
in battle be our protection against the
13:09
wickedness and snares of the devil may
13:12
God rebuke him we humbly pray and do
13:16
thou O prince of the heavenly host by
13:18
the power of God cast into hell Satan
13:22
and all the evil spirits who prowl
13:24
throughout the world seeking the ruin of
13:27
souls amen
13:30
[Music]