Daily Readings - Sun May 09 2021

Acts

25And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.26But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

1 John

7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

John

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.12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.15Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.17These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Sermon

The readings today remind us of the boundless love of God and the call to live as instruments of that love in the world. In the first reading from Acts, Peter encounters Cornelius, a Gentile, and comes to a profound realization: God does not show favoritism. The Holy Spirit descends upon the Gentiles just as it had upon the Jews, proving that God’s mercy and salvation are for all people. This moment marks a pivotal shift in the early Church, as it begins to understand its mission to the entire world. Peter’s courage to step beyond cultural and religious barriers models for us the kind of openness and inclusivity that faith demands. The second reading from 1 John deepens this theme by emphasizing that love is not just a human emotion but the very essence of God’s nature. John writes, “God is love,” and this love is not something we initiate but something God first extends to us. The ultimate expression of this love is the gift of his Son, Jesus, who bore the weight of our sins out of pure, selfless love. This reading invites us to reflect on the source of all love and to recognize that our ability to love comes from God alone. In the Gospel, Jesus takes this a step further by commanding us to love one another as he has loved us. He calls us his friends, not servants, because he has shared with us the intimate knowledge of his Father’s will. This friendship is not passive; it requires us to bear fruit that lasts. Jesus’ love for us is unconditional and sacrificial, and he calls us to imitate that love in our relationships. The greatest love, he says, is to lay down one’s life for others—a love that goes beyond mere affection to a deep commitment to the well-being of others. These readings together challenge us to live as people transformed by God’s love. They call us to move beyond our comfort zones, just as Peter did, and to embrace the diversity of the world around us. They remind us that love is not something we invent but something we receive from God and are called to share generously. In our daily lives, this means seeking opportunities to serve, to forgive, and to include those who might feel excluded. It means living with the same kind of humility and openness that Jesus modeled for us. Let us ask ourselves: Am I allowing God’s love to flow through me? Am I willing to love as radically and unconditionally as he loves me? May we abide in his love and bear fruit that reflects the heart of God.