Daily Readings - Fri May 07 2021

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

Chapter 15

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

In today's readings, we reflect on the essence of unity and love within the Christian community. The first reading from Acts recounts the Council of Jerusalem, where the early Church addressed the inclusion of Gentile converts, demonstrating a commitment to unity and compassion. The decision to send delegates with reassuring guidelines highlights the importance of maintaining harmony amidst diversity. The Gospel from John emphasizes Jesus' teachings on love and friendship, urging His disciples to love one another as He has loved them, and to bear lasting fruit through their actions. These readings, though from different contexts, share a common theme of unity and love. The Council of Jerusalem shows the Church's adaptability and focus on unity, while Jesus' Farewell Discourse underscores the transformative power of love. Together, they remind us that unity and love are not just ideals but actionable principles for Christian living. In our daily lives, we are called to embody these values. Whether resolving conflicts with compassion or reaching out to others with selfless love, we must foster unity and support one another. Just as the early Church and Jesus' disciples were chosen to bear fruit, we too are called to live out our faith in ways that reflect the unity and love that define our Christian identity.