Daily Readings - Fri May 24 2019

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 encounter profound lessons on unity and love. The first reading from Acts 15:22-31 describes the Council of Jerusalem, where the early church leaders gathered to address the inclusion of Gentile converts. They decided to avoid imposing unnecessary burdens, focusing instead on a few key abstentions. This decision, guided by the Holy Spirit, exemplifies the church's commitment to unity and compassion, ensuring that all could join the faith without undue hardship. The Gospel reading, John 15:12-17, shifts our focus to Jesus' teachings on love and friendship. Jesus elevates His followers from servants to friends, emphasizing that true friendship is rooted in love and obedience to His commandments. He calls us to bear lasting fruit through our actions, promising that our prayers in His name will be heard. This passage underscores the transformative power of love and the deep bond we share with Christ. Connecting these readings, we see a common theme of unity and love. The early church's decision in Acts models how love leads to inclusive decisions, while John's Gospel shows how Jesus' love defines our identity and mission. In our daily lives, these teachings encourage us to foster unity amidst diversity and to act with love, reflecting Christ's example. The moral lesson is clear: our actions should be guided by love, maintaining unity and embodying the compassion of Christ in all we do. Let us strive to live out this love, just as the early church and Jesus have shown us.