Daily Readings - Fri May 14 2021

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 witness the early church's response to the vacancy left by Judas, as described in Acts. Peter leads the community in prayer, seeking God's guidance to choose a worthy replacement. This moment highlights the importance of unity and discernment, as they rely on prayer and trust in God's will through the casting of lots, leading to Matthias joining the apostles. This act underscores the community's commitment to maintaining the integrity and continuity of their mission, guided by faith and collaboration. In the Gospel, Jesus shares a profound message of love and friendship. He redefines the relationship between Himself and His disciples, elevating it from servitude to friendship. This transformation is rooted in mutual love and obedience, as Jesus commands His followers to love one another as He has loved them. The essence of this love is selflessness, exemplified by the greatest act of laying down one's life for others. Jesus also emphasizes that we are chosen by Him to bear lasting fruit, a metaphor for the transformative impact of living out His teachings. These readings intertwine the themes of community, prayerful decision-making, and selfless love. The early church's unity in selecting Matthias reflects their dedication to Jesus' teachings, particularly the commandment to love. In our daily lives, we are called to embody this love, whether in our personal relationships or community decisions. Let us embrace our role as chosen by God, responding with hearts full of love and service, bearing fruit that endures. May we, like the early church, trust in God's guidance and strive to live as true friends of Christ, spreading His love in all we do.