Daily Readings - Fri May 15 2020

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

Chapter 15

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

In today’s readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in living out our faith with unity and love. The first reading from Acts 15:22-31 recounts the Council of Jerusalem, where the early Church leaders addressed the inclusion of Gentile converts. They decided not to impose circumcision, instead offering four guidelines to ensure harmony and moral living. This decision reflects the Church's commitment to unity and compassion, adapting to the needs of a diverse community while upholding essential teachings. The Gospel from John 15:12-17 shifts our focus to Jesus' commandment to love one another as He has loved us. Here, Jesus elevates His followers from servants to friends, sharing His Father's will with them. This passage emphasizes the depth of God's love and our role as His friends, called to bear lasting fruit through love and unity. Together, these readings teach us to embrace diversity and love selflessly. Just as the early Church navigated differences with grace, we too can overcome divisions by respecting others' backgrounds and showing compassion. The moral lesson is clear: unity and love are the cornerstones of our faith, enabling us to thrive as a community and reflect God's love in the world. Let us strive to embody this love, fostering harmony and understanding in all we do.