Daily Readings - Sun May 22 2022
Acts
1But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."2And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.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."
Revelation
10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,11having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.12It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed--13on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.22And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.23And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
John
23Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.25"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.28You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.29And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.
Sermon
The readings today guide us through a journey of unity, divine presence, and the enduring power of God’s love. In the first reading from Acts, we witness the early Church navigating a pivotal moment of unity. The Council of Jerusalem resolves the controversy over circumcision, affirming that Gentile converts need only follow basic moral guidelines to be part of the Church. This decision, guided by the Holy Spirit, reflects the Church’s commitment to inclusion and harmony. The second reading from Revelation paints a breathtaking vision of the New Jerusalem, where God’s presence fills the city, and there is no need for a temple because God is the temple. This vision reminds us that our ultimate hope is a world fully united in God’s love. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the intimate relationship between love, obedience, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. He promises peace that transcends the world’s anxieties and assures us that His departure is not an end but a new beginning.
These readings are deeply interconnected. The Council of Jerusalem in Acts shows the Church living out the unity Jesus speaks of in the Gospel. Just as the early Church leaders listened to the Holy Spirit, we too are called to be guided by the Spirit in our decisions and relationships. Revelation’s vision of the New Jerusalem is the ultimate fulfillment of the unity and divine presence that both Acts and the Gospel point to. Together, they remind us that the Church is not just an institution but a living, Spirit-filled community journeying toward the heavenly Jerusalem.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we live out unity and God’s presence. Are we willing to let go of divisions and trust in the Holy Spirit’s guidance? Do we seek God’s presence in our lives, or are we content with lesser things? Jesus’ promise of peace challenges us to live fearlessly, trusting that even in uncertainty, God is with us. Let us strive to be instruments of unity, just as the early Church was, and let us keep our eyes fixed on the eternal city where God will dwell with us forever.