Daily Readings - Wed May 14 2025

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

**Sermon: Unity and Love in Action** In today's readings, we reflect on the early Christian community and Jesus' teachings on love and friendship. The Acts of the Apostles recounts the selection of Matthias to replace Judas, demonstrating the church's commitment to unity and divine guidance. The apostles, led by Peter, prayed together, seeking God's will in their decision. This moment shows their reliance on prayer and their dedication to maintaining the integrity of their group, ensuring continuity in their mission. The Gospel from John emphasizes Jesus' command to love one another as He has loved us. Jesus refers to His disciples as friends, not servants, because He has shared all He knows with them. This friendship is rooted in mutual love and self-sacrifice, as He laid down His life for them. The call to bear lasting fruit through their actions underscores the active nature of this love, which goes beyond words and is demonstrated in deeds. These readings connect in their emphasis on unity and love. The early church's unity in selecting Matthias mirrors the love and harmony Jesus taught. For us today, this means striving for unity in our communities, embracing our role as friends of Christ, and actively living out His teachings. We are called to bear fruit through loving actions, reflecting Jesus' love in our interactions and decisions. Let us draw inspiration from these examples to live in harmony and serve one another with the love Christ has shown us.