Daily Readings - Thu May 14 2020

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of community, leadership, and the transformative power of love. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Church addressing a crisis—the betrayal of Judas—and taking steps to restore unity and continuity. Peter leads the disciples in prayer, seeking God’s guidance to choose a worthy successor. This moment highlights the importance of communal discernment and trust in God’s providence. The selection of Matthias reminds us that every member of the community has a role to play, and that even in times of loss, God provides a way forward. In the Gospel, Jesus deepens the understanding of His relationship with His disciples. He calls them friends, not servants, because He has shared with them everything He has received from the Father. This friendship is rooted in love—a love that is selfless, sacrificial, and life-giving. Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us, a love that goes beyond mere affection or convenience. It is a love that is willing to lay down one’s life for others, just as He did for us. These readings challenge us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Are we building communities rooted in prayer and mutual support? Do we see ourselves as friends of Jesus, called to bear fruit that lasts? Let us strive to embody the love and unity that Jesus modeled for us. May we, like Matthias, be willing to step into our roles with humility and trust, and may we, like the disciples, embrace the joy and responsibility of being friends of Christ. In doing so, we will fulfill Jesus’ command to love one another and bring His light into a world that so desperately needs it.