Daily Readings - Fri May 20 2022

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

The readings today remind us of the power of unity and love 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, make a decision that avoids unnecessary burdens on the new believers while ensuring they can live in harmony with Jewish Christians. This moment in Acts shows us the importance of discernment and the need to balance tradition with the demands of spreading the Gospel to all people. It also highlights the Church’s commitment to unity, even in the face of disagreement and diversity. In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea of unity to a deeper level. He tells us that His commandment is to love one another as He has loved us. This love is not just a feeling but a choice—a choice to lay down our lives for others, just as Jesus did for us. Jesus calls us His friends, not servants, because He has shared everything the Father has revealed with us. This friendship is not passive; it is active and fruitful. Jesus appoints us to go out and bear fruit that will last, and this fruit is rooted in love. When we love one another, we reflect the love of Christ, and our actions become a witness to the world. These readings remind us that our faith is not just about rules or rituals but about relationships. Just as the early Church worked to maintain unity while embracing diversity, we too must strive to love those around us, even when it is challenging. Jesus’ commandment to love is not optional; it is the heart of who we are as His disciples. Let us ask ourselves: How am I living out this commandment in my daily life? Am I bearing fruit that lasts by loving others as Christ has loved me? May we be guided by the Holy Spirit to live in unity and to love one another as Jesus has loved us.