Daily Readings - Sun Apr 28 2024

²⁶And when he had arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to join himself to the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple²⁷But Barnabas took him aside and led him to the Apostles. And he explained to them how he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him, and how, in Damascus, he had acted faithfully in the name of Jesus²⁸And he was with them, entering and departing Jerusalem, and acting faithfully in the name of the Lord²⁹He also was speaking with the Gentiles and disputing with the Greeks. But they were seeking to kill him³⁰And when the brothers had realized this, they brought him to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus³¹Certainly, the Church had peace throughout all of Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and it was being built up, while walking in the fear of the Lord, and it was being filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit

1 John

Chapter 3

¹⁸My little sons, let us not love in words only, but in works and in truth¹⁹In this way, we will know that we are of the truth, and we will commend our hearts in his sight²⁰For even if our heart reproaches us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows all things²¹Most beloved, if our heart does not reproach us, we can have confidence toward God²²and whatever we shall request of him, we shall receive from him. For we keep his commandments, and we do the things that are pleasing in his sight²³And this is his commandment: that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he has commanded us²⁴And those who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And we know that he abides in us by this: by the Spirit, whom he has given to us

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

The readings today remind us of the essential relationship between faith, love, and unity. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community thriving because of their shared faith and mutual support. Barnabas, in particular, stands out as a model of trust and encouragement, helping Saul (Paul) to integrate into the community despite his past persecution of believers. This passage highlights the importance of living out our faith in community and being open to giving others a chance to grow and contribute. The second reading from 1 John deepens this message by emphasizing that true love is not just in words but in actions. John reminds us that our faith is demonstrated through our deeds and our willingness to follow God’s commandments. He also reassures us that even when we feel unworthy or uncertain, God’s love and mercy are greater than our doubts. This reading invites us to reflect on how we express our love for God and for one another in tangible ways. In the Gospel, Jesus uses the image of the vine and the branches to teach us about our dependence on him. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own, we cannot live a fruitful spiritual life apart from Christ. Jesus calls us to abide in him, to remain connected to him through prayer, his word, and the sacraments. This union with Christ is not just for our own benefit but also for the sake of others, as we are called to bear fruit by living out his love and truth in the world. Today’s readings, therefore, call us to examine our lives and ask: Are we living as part of a community that supports and encourages one another? Are we expressing our faith through concrete actions of love and service? Are we staying connected to Christ, the true vine, so that we can bear fruit that glorifies God? Let us strive to abide in Christ, to love in deed and truth, and to trust in God’s presence and guidance in our lives.