Daily Readings - Wed May 10 2023

¹And certain ones, descending from Judea, were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.²Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas made no small uprising against them, they decided that Paul and Barnabas, and some from the opposing side, should go up to the Apostles and priests in Jerusalem concerning this question³Therefore, being led by the church, they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles. And they caused great joy among all the brothers⁴And when they had arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the Apostles and the elders, reporting what great things God had done with them⁵But some from the sect of the Pharisees, those who were believers, rose up saying, "It is necessary for them to be circumcised and to be instructed to keep the Law of Moses.⁶And the Apostles and elders came together to take care of this matter

John

Chapter 15

¹"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser²Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he will take away. And each one that does bear fruit, he will cleanse, so that it may bring forth more fruit³You are clean now, because of the word that I have spoken to you⁴Abide in me, and I in you. Just as the branch is not able to bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so also are you unable, unless you abide in me⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit. For without me, you are able to do nothing⁶If anyone does not abide in me, he will be cast away, like a branch, and he will wither, and they will gather him and cast him into the fire, and he burns⁷If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, then you may ask for whatever you will, and it shall be done for you⁸In this, my Father is glorified: that you should bring forth very much fruit and become my disciples

Sermon

Dear friends in Christ, Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, community, and our relationship with God. In the First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we witness a pivotal moment in the early Church. The question of whether Gentile converts needed to be circumcised to be saved sparked a lively debate. This was not merely a matter of ritual but a deeper question about the universality of the Gospel. The early Church leaders recognized that God’s plan was broader than they had imagined, and through the Holy Spirit, they discerned that salvation was open to all, regardless of cultural or ritual practices. The Gospel reading from John 15 presents Jesus as the true vine, with us as the branches. This imagery emphasizes our total dependence on God for life and fruitfulness. Just as branches cannot bear fruit on their own, we cannot live a meaningful Christian life without abiding in Christ. Jesus’ words remind us that our spiritual vitality comes from remaining connected to Him through prayer, the sacraments, and living according to His teachings. These readings remind us that our faith is not a solitary journey but a communal one. Like the early Church, we must trust in God’s guidance and be open to the ways the Spirit leads us. As branches on the vine, we are called to bear fruit—acts of love, kindness, and service—that glorify God. Let us ask ourselves: Am I staying connected to Christ? Am I allowing His words to dwell in me? Let us pray for the grace to trust in God’s plan and to remain fruitful branches of the true vine.