Daily Readings - Wed May 10 2023

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.3And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.4And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.6And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

John

1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Sermon

Dear friends in Christ, Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, community, and our relationship with God. In the First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we witness a pivotal moment in the early Church. The question of whether Gentile converts needed to be circumcised to be saved sparked a lively debate. This was not merely a matter of ritual but a deeper question about the universality of the Gospel. The early Church leaders recognized that God’s plan was broader than they had imagined, and through the Holy Spirit, they discerned that salvation was open to all, regardless of cultural or ritual practices. The Gospel reading from John 15 presents Jesus as the true vine, with us as the branches. This imagery emphasizes our total dependence on God for life and fruitfulness. Just as branches cannot bear fruit on their own, we cannot live a meaningful Christian life without abiding in Christ. Jesus’ words remind us that our spiritual vitality comes from remaining connected to Him through prayer, the sacraments, and living according to His teachings. These readings remind us that our faith is not a solitary journey but a communal one. Like the early Church, we must trust in God’s guidance and be open to the ways the Spirit leads us. As branches on the vine, we are called to bear fruit—acts of love, kindness, and service—that glorify God. Let us ask ourselves: Am I staying connected to Christ? Am I allowing His words to dwell in me? Let us pray for the grace to trust in God’s plan and to remain fruitful branches of the true vine.