Daily Readings - Sun May 25 2025
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 first reading from Acts 15 describes a pivotal moment in the early Church when the Apostles and elders gathered in Jerusalem to resolve a controversy. Certain Jewish Christians were insisting that Gentile converts must be circumcised to be saved, but Paul and Barnabas opposed this, arguing that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. After much debate, the Council decided that Gentile converts did not need to be circumcised, but they should abstain from certain practices that could offend Jewish believers. This decision, guided by the Holy Spirit, reflects the Church's commitment to unity and its recognition that God's grace is available to all people.
The second reading from Revelation 21 offers a vision of the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city that descends from God. This city is filled with the glory of God and is described as a place of perfect harmony and beauty, where God dwells among his people. The absence of a temple in this vision signifies that God himself is the temple, and his presence is the light that illuminates the city. This passage reminds us that our ultimate hope is not in this world but in the eternal kingdom where God will dwell with us forever.
In the Gospel reading from John 14, Jesus speaks about the importance of loving him and keeping his word. He promises that the Father will send the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, to teach and guide his disciples. Jesus also gives his followers a gift of peace, a peace that the world cannot give. This peace is rooted in the knowledge that Jesus is returning to the Father, and one day his disciples will join him in eternal glory. Jesus' words emphasize the need to trust in God's plan and to live in love and obedience to his teachings.
These readings are connected by the theme of unity and the presence of God. The decision in Acts 15 reflects the early Church's effort to maintain unity among believers from different backgrounds, guided by the Holy Spirit. Revelation 21 offers a glimpse of the ultimate unity and harmony that God promises in the heavenly city. John 14 emphasizes the importance of love and obedience as the foundation for unity and peace. Together, these readings remind us that our faith is rooted in God's love and that we are called to live in harmony with one another as we await the fulfillment of God's promises.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to embrace diversity and work toward unity, just as the early Church did. They remind us to trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to live in accordance with God's will. Just as Jesus gave his disciples a gift of peace, we too can experience that peace when we keep his word and live in love. Let us strive to be instruments of unity and harmony in our communities, reflecting the love and light of God to a world in need of his presence.