Daily Readings - Thu May 11 2023

⁷And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.⁸And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,⁹and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.¹⁰Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?¹¹But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."¹²And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.¹³After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me.¹⁴Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.¹⁵And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,¹⁶"'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it,¹⁷that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things¹⁸known from of old.'¹⁹Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,²⁰but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.²¹For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues."

John

Chapter 15

⁹As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.¹⁰If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.¹¹These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Sermon

The first reading from Acts 15:7-21 recounts the Council of Jerusalem, where the early Church addressed whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish law. Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James each spoke, emphasizing that salvation comes through faith in Jesus, not adherence to the Law of Moses. They agreed that Gentiles should only avoid idolatry, fornication, and blood, reflecting the Church's inclusivity and focus on grace. The Gospel, John 15:9-11, features Jesus commanding His followers to love one another as He loved them. He ties keeping His commandments to abiding in His love, which brings joy. This passage is part of Jesus' farewell discourse, highlighting the importance of love and unity among believers. Both readings emphasize unity and love. Acts shows the Church uniting Jews and Gentiles through faith, while John underscores the love binding all believers. Together, they remind us to embrace diversity and focus on essential teachings. In modern life, this means avoiding divisions and embracing love as the foundation of our actions and relationships, leading to true joy.