Daily Readings - Fri May 12 2023

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 invite us to reflect on the power of love and unity 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, decide to impose only a few essential practices on these new believers, emphasizing love and freedom rather than burdensome rules. This decision is rooted in the conviction that faith in Jesus Christ is what truly unites us, and that love must be the foundation of our shared life. In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea a step further. He tells His disciples that they are no longer servants but friends, because He has shared everything He has heard from the Father with them. This intimate relationship is rooted in love—specifically, the command to love one another as He has loved us. Jesus’ love is not conditional or self-serving; it is self-giving and sacrificial. He calls us to imitate this love in our relationships with others, bearing fruit that will last. These readings remind us that our faith is not just about rules or rituals, but about living in loving relationship with God and with one another. In our daily lives, we are called to approach others with the same compassion and understanding that the early Church showed to the Gentiles. Let us ask ourselves: Are we building up the Body of Christ by our words and actions, or are we imposing unnecessary burdens? Do we treat others as friends, sharing the love and truth of God with them? May we, like the early Church, be guided by the Holy Spirit to live in love and unity, bearing fruit that reflects the heart of Christ.