Daily Readings - Thu May 23 2019
Acts
7And after a great contention had taken place, Peter rose up and said to them: "Noble brothers, you know that, in recent days, God has chosen from among us, by my mouth, Gentiles to hear the word of the Gospel and to believe8And God, who knows hearts, offered testimony, by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as to us9And he distinguished nothing between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith10Now therefore, why do you tempt God to impose a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear11But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe in order to be saved, in the same manner also as them.12Then the entire multitude was silent. And they were listening to Barnabas and Paul, describing what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them13And after they had been silent, James responded by saying: "Noble brothers, listen to me14Simon has explained in what manner God first visited, so as to take from the Gentiles a people to his name15And the words of the Prophets are in agreement with this, just as it was written16‘After these things, I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. And I will rebuild its ruins, and I will raise it up17so that the rest of men may seek the Lord, along with all the nations over whom my name has been invoked, says the Lord, who does these things.18To the Lord, his own work has been known from eternity19Because of this, I judge that those who were converted to God from among the Gentiles are not to be disturbed20but instead that we write to them, that they should keep themselves from the defilement of idols, and from fornication, and from whatever has been suffocated, and from blood21For Moses, from ancient times, has had in each city those who preach him in the synagogues, where he is read on every Sabbath.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the universal call to follow God’s will and to live in His love. The first reading from Acts describes a pivotal moment in the early Church, where the apostles and elders gather to discuss whether Gentile converts must adhere to Jewish law to be fully part of the Christian community. Peter recalls how God had revealed to him that the Gospel was meant for all people, not just the Jews, and how the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles just as on the Jews. James then references the prophets to confirm that God’s plan has always included the Gentiles, and the assembly agrees that they should not impose unnecessary burdens on the converts, only asking them to avoid certain practices that could lead them away from God. This decision reflects the early Church’s growing understanding of its mission to all nations.
The Gospel reading from John 15 emphasizes the central place of love in the Christian life. Jesus tells us that He has loved us as the Father has loved Him, and He calls us to remain in His love by keeping His commandments. This is not a burden, but a path to joy. Just as Jesus abides in the Father’s love by keeping His will, we are called to abide in Jesus’ love by living according to His teachings. This mutual relationship of love is the heart of the Christian life.
These readings remind us that our faith is rooted in God’s universal love and His desire to draw all people to Himself. The early Church’s decision to welcome Gentiles without imposing unnecessary restrictions teaches us about the importance of unity and inclusivity. We are called to live in a way that reflects God’s love, avoiding anything that might create division or hinder others from coming to Him. At the same time, the Gospel reminds us that love is not just a feeling but a commitment to living according to God’s will. As we strive to follow Christ, we must ask ourselves: Are we living in a way that reflects God’s universal love? Are we keeping His commandments and abiding in His love? Let us seek to live in unity and joy, rooted in the love that Jesus has shared with us.