Daily Readings - Fri May 12 2023

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.³⁰So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:³¹Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

John

Chapter 15

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 invite us to reflect on the power of love and unity in the life of the Church. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community grappling with how to welcome Gentile converts into the fold. The Apostles and elders, guided by the Holy Spirit, decide to impose only a few essential practices on these new believers, emphasizing love and freedom rather than burdensome rules. This decision is rooted in the conviction that faith in Jesus Christ is what truly unites us, and that love must be the foundation of our shared life. In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea a step further. He tells His disciples that they are no longer servants but friends, because He has shared everything He has heard from the Father with them. This intimate relationship is rooted in love—specifically, the command to love one another as He has loved us. Jesus’ love is not conditional or self-serving; it is self-giving and sacrificial. He calls us to imitate this love in our relationships with others, bearing fruit that will last. These readings remind us that our faith is not just about rules or rituals, but about living in loving relationship with God and with one another. In our daily lives, we are called to approach others with the same compassion and understanding that the early Church showed to the Gentiles. Let us ask ourselves: Are we building up the Body of Christ by our words and actions, or are we imposing unnecessary burdens? Do we treat others as friends, sharing the love and truth of God with them? May we, like the early Church, be guided by the Holy Spirit to live in love and unity, bearing fruit that reflects the heart of Christ.