Daily Readings - Fri May 04 2018

²²Then 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 brothers²³what 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, greetings²⁴Since we have heard that some, going out from among us, have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, to whom we gave no commandment²⁵it pleased us, being assembled as one, to choose men and to send them to you, with our most beloved Barnabas and Paul²⁶men who have handed over their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ²⁷Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, with the spoken word, reaffirm to you the same things²⁸For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose no further burden upon you, other than these necessary things²⁹that 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.³⁰And so, having been dismissed, they went down to Antioch. And gathering the multitude together, they delivered the epistle³¹And when they had read it, they were gladdened by this consolation

John

Chapter 15

¹²This is my precept: that you love one another, just as I have loved you¹³No one has a greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends¹⁴You are my friends, if you do what I instruct you¹⁵I 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 you¹⁶You 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 you¹⁷This I command you: that you love one another

Sermon

In today’s readings, we journey through two significant moments in the life of the early Christian Church and the teachings of Jesus. The first reading from Acts 15:22-31 recounts the Council of Jerusalem, where the apostles and elders gathered to address whether Gentile converts needed to adhere to Jewish law. They decided to ease the burden on these new believers, focusing instead on a few essential practices to promote unity and inclusion. This decision was a pivotal moment in the Church’s growth, allowing the Gospel to spread beyond Jewish communities. The Gospel reading, John 15:12-17, is part of Jesus’ farewell discourse. Here, Jesus commands His disciples to love one another as He has loved them, emphasizing that the greatest love is laying down one’s life for friends. He refers to His disciples as friends, sharing all He has heard from the Father, and commissions them to bear lasting fruit. This passage underscores the depth of Jesus’ love and the transformative power of that love in the lives of His followers. These readings are deeply connected through the theme of unity and love. The decision in Acts reflects Jesus’ commandment to love, as the early Church leaders chose to include Gentiles without imposing unnecessary burdens, demonstrating love and understanding. This unity was not about uniformity but about a shared commitment to follow Christ. In our daily lives, we are called to embody this love and unity. We can apply these teachings by embracing diversity and including others, just as the early Church did. Whether in our communities, workplaces, or families, we can choose to love unconditionally, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued. This love is not passive but active, requiring us to go beyond our comfort zones to include others, just as Jesus did. As we reflect on these readings, we are reminded that our faith is not just about rules but about relationships. The moral lesson is clear: unity and love are at the heart of our Christian calling. Let us strive to live out this love, bearing fruit that lasts, and building a world where everyone experiences the inclusive and transformative power of God’s love.