Daily Readings - Fri May 20 2022

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

The readings today remind us of the power of unity and love in the life of the Church. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community grappling with how to welcome Gentile converts into the fold. The Apostles and elders, guided by the Holy Spirit, make a decision that avoids unnecessary burdens on the new believers while ensuring they can live in harmony with Jewish Christians. This moment in Acts shows us the importance of discernment and the need to balance tradition with the demands of spreading the Gospel to all people. It also highlights the Church’s commitment to unity, even in the face of disagreement and diversity. In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea of unity to a deeper level. He tells us that His commandment is to love one another as He has loved us. This love is not just a feeling but a choice—a choice to lay down our lives for others, just as Jesus did for us. Jesus calls us His friends, not servants, because He has shared everything the Father has revealed with us. This friendship is not passive; it is active and fruitful. Jesus appoints us to go out and bear fruit that will last, and this fruit is rooted in love. When we love one another, we reflect the love of Christ, and our actions become a witness to the world. These readings remind us that our faith is not just about rules or rituals but about relationships. Just as the early Church worked to maintain unity while embracing diversity, we too must strive to love those around us, even when it is challenging. Jesus’ commandment to love is not optional; it is the heart of who we are as His disciples. Let us ask ourselves: How am I living out this commandment in my daily life? Am I bearing fruit that lasts by loving others as Christ has loved me? May we be guided by the Holy Spirit to live in unity and to love one another as Jesus has loved us.