Daily Readings - Wed May 22 2019
Acts
1Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.3The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad.4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.5Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."6The apostles and elders met to consider this question.
John
1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Sermon
The first reading from Acts 15.1-6 describes a pivotal moment in the early Christian Church. Certain individuals from Judea insisted that Gentile converts must be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses to be saved. This caused great debate, leading to the decision that Paul, Barnabas, and others should travel to Jerusalem to resolve the issue. The reading highlights the tension between Jewish and Gentile believers and the Church’s effort to maintain unity amidst differing traditions. The apostles and elders gathered to address this matter, setting the stage for the Council of Jerusalem, which would ultimately declare that Gentiles did not need to observe the full Law of Moses to be part of the Christian community.
The Gospel reading from John 15.1-8 shifts our focus to Jesus’ teachings about the relationship between the vine and the branches. Jesus declares Himself to be the true vine, and His Father the vinedresser. He emphasizes that branches (His followers) must abide in Him to bear fruit. Those who do not remain in Him are unable to produce fruit and are eventually cut away. This passage underscores the necessity of remaining connected to Christ, for it is only through this union that believers can live fruitful and meaningful lives. Jesus also promises that if His words abide in us, our prayers will be answered, and we will bring glory to the Father by bearing much fruit.
Both readings speak to the theme of unity and dependence on God. In Acts, the early Church works to maintain unity despite differences, recognizing that faith in Christ is sufficient for salvation. In John, Jesus teaches that spiritual life and fruitfulness come only through abiding in Him. Together, these readings remind us that our relationship with God and with one another is essential. As branches on the vine, we must stay connected to Christ through prayer, sacraments, and living out His teachings. In our daily lives, this means trusting in God’s grace, seeking unity with others, and striving to bear fruit through acts of love and service. May we abide in Christ, allowing His words to guide us, so that we may glorify the Father and live as true disciples of Jesus.