Daily Readings - Mon May 14 2018

¹⁵In those days, Peter, rising up in the midst of the brothers, said (now the crowd of men altogether was about one hundred and twenty)¹⁶"Noble brothers, the Scripture must be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit predicted by the mouth of David about Judas, who was the leader of those who apprehended Jesus¹⁷He had been numbered among us, and he was chosen by lot for this ministry²⁰For it has been written in the book of Psalms: ‘Let their dwelling place be desolate and may there be no one who dwells within it,’ and ‘Let another take his episcopate.²¹Therefore, it is necessary that, out of these men who have been assembling with us throughout the entire time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us²²beginning from the baptism of John, until the day when he was taken up from us, one of these be made a witness with us of his Resurrection.²³And they appointed two: Joseph, who was called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias²⁴And praying, they said: "May you, O Lord, who knows the heart of everyone, reveal which one of these two you have chosen²⁵to take a place in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas prevaricated, so that he might go to his own place.²⁶And they cast lots concerning them, and the lot fell upon Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven Apostles

John

Chapter 15

⁹As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love¹⁰If you keep my precepts, you shall abide in my love, just as I also have kept my Father’s precepts and I abide in his love¹¹These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be fulfilled¹²This 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 moments of transition and profound teachings in the early Christian community. The first reading from Acts recounts the selection of Matthias to replace Judas, completing the circle of the Twelve Apostles. This passage highlights the disciples' commitment to unity and continuity, guided by prayer and trust in God’s will. The second reading from John’s Gospel presents Jesus’ heartfelt words to His disciples, emphasizing the command to love one another as He has loved them. Jesus redefines their relationship, calling them friends rather than servants, and commissions them to bear lasting fruit through their love and obedience. The context of these readings is pivotal. In Acts, the early church is in its infancy, grappling with the loss of Judas and the need to maintain the integrity of the apostolic mission. The selection of Matthias underscores the community’s reliance on prayer and their understanding of God’s providence. In John’s Gospel, Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure, reassuring them of their new status as friends and entrusting them with the mission to love and bear fruit. Together, these readings remind us that our faith is rooted in community, friendship, and the transformative power of love. These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Just as the early disciples trusted in God’s plan and chose Matthias, we too can face decisions with prayer and confidence in divine guidance. Jesus’ call to love one another challenges us to go beyond superficial relationships and to live with the depth and selflessness that He modeled. In a world often marked by division and isolation, these readings remind us that we are called to be a community of friends, united in love and dedicated to bearing fruit that endures. Let us strive to live out this vocation with joy, fidelity, and the courage to love as Christ has loved us.