Daily Readings - Sun Apr 29 2018

First Reading - Acts 9.26-31

²⁶And when he had arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to join himself to the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple²⁷But Barnabas took him aside and led him to the Apostles. And he explained to them how he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him, and how, in Damascus, he had acted faithfully in the name of Jesus²⁸And he was with them, entering and departing Jerusalem, and acting faithfully in the name of the Lord²⁹He also was speaking with the Gentiles and disputing with the Greeks. But they were seeking to kill him³⁰And when the brothers had realized this, they brought him to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus³¹Certainly, the Church had peace throughout all of Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and it was being built up, while walking in the fear of the Lord, and it was being filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit

Second Reading - 1 John 3.18-24

1 John

Chapter 3

¹⁸My little sons, let us not love in words only, but in works and in truth¹⁹In this way, we will know that we are of the truth, and we will commend our hearts in his sight²⁰For even if our heart reproaches us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows all things²¹Most beloved, if our heart does not reproach us, we can have confidence toward God²²and whatever we shall request of him, we shall receive from him. For we keep his commandments, and we do the things that are pleasing in his sight²³And this is his commandment: that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he has commanded us²⁴And those who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And we know that he abides in us by this: by the Spirit, whom he has given to us

Gospel - John 15.1-8

John

Chapter 15

¹"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser²Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he will take away. And each one that does bear fruit, he will cleanse, so that it may bring forth more fruit³You are clean now, because of the word that I have spoken to you⁴Abide in me, and I in you. Just as the branch is not able to bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so also are you unable, unless you abide in me⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit. For without me, you are able to do nothing⁶If anyone does not abide in me, he will be cast away, like a branch, and he will wither, and they will gather him and cast him into the fire, and he burns⁷If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, then you may ask for whatever you will, and it shall be done for you⁸In this, my Father is glorified: that you should bring forth very much fruit and become my disciples

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about unity, love, and our connection to God. The first reading from Acts recounts Paul's journey as he joins the early Christian community in Jerusalem, with Barnabas's support, and his courageous preaching to the Gentiles. This passage highlights the unity and growth of the early church, despite the challenges they faced. The second reading from 1 John emphasizes the importance of expressing love through actions rather than just words, and the necessity of obeying God's commandments. The Gospel from John presents Jesus as the vine, teaching us that our ability to bear fruit depends on our connection to Him. These readings are interconnected through the theme of relationship and unity. Just as the early church found strength in their unity and faith, we too are called to live in harmony with one another. The second reading underscores that genuine love is demonstrated through our actions and obedience to God's will. The Gospel reinforces this by illustrating that our spiritual vitality and effectiveness in serving others stem from our abiding relationship with Jesus. In our daily lives, these teachings remind us to stay connected to God through prayer and community. By loving others through our actions and remaining faithful to God's commandments, we bear fruit that glorifies Him. Let us strive to maintain a deep connection with Jesus, allowing His love to flow through us, so that we may serve others and bring joy to God's heart.