Daily Readings - Fri May 19 2017
Acts
22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,23with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.24Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,25it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,26men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.28For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:29that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."30So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.31And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.
John
12"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.13Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.14You are my friends if you do what I command you.15No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.17These things I command you, so that you will 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 a significant challenge: how to welcome Gentiles into the fold without imposing unnecessary burdens. The Apostles and elders, guided by the Holy Spirit, make a decision that balances compassion and clarity, ensuring that the young Church remains united and free to grow. This moment in Acts reminds us that the Church is not just an institution but a family bound together by love and mutual respect.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea a step further. He calls His disciples not just followers, but friends—a profound shift in relationship. Jesus’ command to love one another is not just a moral instruction; it’s a way of life that flows from the heart of God. To love as Jesus loves means to lay down our lives for others, to listen, to serve, and to bear fruit that lasts. This kind of love is not optional; it’s the very essence of who we are as Christians.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: How can I be an instrument of unity and love in my own community? Am I willing to let go of my own preferences for the sake of others, as the early Church did? Do I see my neighbors, my family, and even my enemies as friends in the eyes of Christ? The readings today remind us that love is not just a feeling but a choice—a choice to act with compassion, humility, and generosity. May we, like the early Church, be guided by the Holy Spirit to live out this love in every moment, bearing fruit that will last for eternity.