Daily Readings - Thu May 23 2019

⁷And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.⁸And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;⁹And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.¹⁰Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?¹¹But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.¹²Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.¹³And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:¹⁴Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.¹⁵And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,¹⁶After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:¹⁷That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.¹⁸Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.¹⁹Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:²⁰But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.²¹For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

John

Chapter 15

⁹As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.¹⁰If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.¹¹These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the universal call to follow God’s will and to live in His love. The first reading from Acts describes a pivotal moment in the early Church, where the apostles and elders gather to discuss whether Gentile converts must adhere to Jewish law to be fully part of the Christian community. Peter recalls how God had revealed to him that the Gospel was meant for all people, not just the Jews, and how the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles just as on the Jews. James then references the prophets to confirm that God’s plan has always included the Gentiles, and the assembly agrees that they should not impose unnecessary burdens on the converts, only asking them to avoid certain practices that could lead them away from God. This decision reflects the early Church’s growing understanding of its mission to all nations. The Gospel reading from John 15 emphasizes the central place of love in the Christian life. Jesus tells us that He has loved us as the Father has loved Him, and He calls us to remain in His love by keeping His commandments. This is not a burden, but a path to joy. Just as Jesus abides in the Father’s love by keeping His will, we are called to abide in Jesus’ love by living according to His teachings. This mutual relationship of love is the heart of the Christian life. These readings remind us that our faith is rooted in God’s universal love and His desire to draw all people to Himself. The early Church’s decision to welcome Gentiles without imposing unnecessary restrictions teaches us about the importance of unity and inclusivity. We are called to live in a way that reflects God’s love, avoiding anything that might create division or hinder others from coming to Him. At the same time, the Gospel reminds us that love is not just a feeling but a commitment to living according to God’s will. As we strive to follow Christ, we must ask ourselves: Are we living in a way that reflects God’s universal love? Are we keeping His commandments and abiding in His love? Let us seek to live in unity and joy, rooted in the love that Jesus has shared with us.