Daily Readings - Fri May 19 2017
Acts
22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers.23With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.24We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.25So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul--26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing.28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.30The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter.31The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message.
John
12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.14You are my friends if you do what I command.15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.17This is my command: Love each other.
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 a significant challenge: how to welcome Gentiles into the fold without imposing unnecessary burdens. The Apostles and elders, guided by the Holy Spirit, make a decision that balances compassion and clarity, ensuring that the young Church remains united and free to grow. This moment in Acts reminds us that the Church is not just an institution but a family bound together by love and mutual respect.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea a step further. He calls His disciples not just followers, but friends—a profound shift in relationship. Jesus’ command to love one another is not just a moral instruction; it’s a way of life that flows from the heart of God. To love as Jesus loves means to lay down our lives for others, to listen, to serve, and to bear fruit that lasts. This kind of love is not optional; it’s the very essence of who we are as Christians.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: How can I be an instrument of unity and love in my own community? Am I willing to let go of my own preferences for the sake of others, as the early Church did? Do I see my neighbors, my family, and even my enemies as friends in the eyes of Christ? The readings today remind us that love is not just a feeling but a choice—a choice to act with compassion, humility, and generosity. May we, like the early Church, be guided by the Holy Spirit to live out this love in every moment, bearing fruit that will last for eternity.