First reading Apocalypse 5:1-10
The blood of the Lamb bought men for God
I, John, saw that in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne there was a scroll that had writing on back and front and was sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a powerful angel who called with a loud voice, ‘Is there anyone worthy to open the scroll and break the seals of it?’ But there was no one, in heaven or on the earth or under the earth, who was able to open the scroll and read it. I wept bitterly because there was nobody fit to open the scroll and read it, but one of the elders said to me, ‘There is no need to cry: the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed, and he will open the scroll and the seven seals of it.’
Then I saw, standing between the throne with its four animals and the circle of the elders, a Lamb that seemed to have been sacrificed; it had seven horns, and it had seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits God has sent out all over the world. The Lamb came forward to take the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne, and when he took it, the four animals prostrated themselves before him and with them the twenty-four elders; each one of them was holding a harp and had a golden bowl full of incense made of the prayers of the saints. They sang a new hymn:
‘You are worthy to take the scroll
and break the seals of it,
because you were sacrificed, and with your blood
you bought men for God
of every race, language, people and nation
and made them a line of kings and priests,
to serve our God and to rule the world.’
Responsorial Psalm 149:1-6,9
You made us a line of kings and priests to serve our God.
or
Alleluia!
Sing a new song to the Lord,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its Maker,
let Zion’s sons exult in their king.
You made us a line of kings and priests to serve our God.
or
Alleluia!
Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in his people.
He crowns the poor with salvation.
You made us a line of kings and priests to serve our God.
or
Alleluia!
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips:
this honour is for all his faithful.
You made us a line of kings and priests to serve our God.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Luke 19:41-44
Jesus sheds tears over the coming fate of Jerusalem
As Jesus drew near Jerusalem and came in sight of the city he shed tears over it and said, ‘If you in your turn had only understood on this day the message of peace! But, alas, it is hidden from your eyes! Yes, a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all round you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and the children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you – and all because you did not recognise your opportunity when God offered it!’
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God’s will: to love
“Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.” In today’s feast, we celebrate Mary as someone who places God’s will above her own and anyone else’s. Like everyone, Mary faced challenges, fears, doubts, etc. Despite these struggles, she remained faithful in doing God’s will: to love. We see her love for God demonstrated by her trust in Him, even at the foot of the cross. We remember how she cared for others by noticing their needs and bringing them to Jesus, as shown in the wedding of Cana.
In prayer, let us recognise that Jesus looks at each of us and stretches out His hands toward us. As His disciples, He invites us to be His sisters, brothers and mothers of today. Together with Mary, let us rejoice in being invited to be part of Jesus’ family. We pray that our lives can witness to what it means to do the Father’s will so that others may be drawn to come and be part of God’s family as well.
Reflective question:
Does God’s will take priority in my daily life?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
