Daily Readings - Sun May 22 2022
Acts
1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.22Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:23And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:24Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:25It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,26Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.28For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Revelation
10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;12And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: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 in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.22And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
John
23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.28Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.29And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might 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.