Daily Readings - Fri May 20 2022
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 remind us of the power of unity and love 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, make a decision that avoids unnecessary burdens on the new believers while ensuring they can live in harmony with Jewish Christians. This moment in Acts shows us the importance of discernment and the need to balance tradition with the demands of spreading the Gospel to all people. It also highlights the Church’s commitment to unity, even in the face of disagreement and diversity.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea of unity to a deeper level. He tells us that His commandment is to love one another as He has loved us. This love is not just a feeling but a choice—a choice to lay down our lives for others, just as Jesus did for us. Jesus calls us His friends, not servants, because He has shared everything the Father has revealed with us. This friendship is not passive; it is active and fruitful. Jesus appoints us to go out and bear fruit that will last, and this fruit is rooted in love. When we love one another, we reflect the love of Christ, and our actions become a witness to the world.
These readings remind us that our faith is not just about rules or rituals but about relationships. Just as the early Church worked to maintain unity while embracing diversity, we too must strive to love those around us, even when it is challenging. Jesus’ commandment to love is not optional; it is the heart of who we are as His disciples. Let us ask ourselves: How am I living out this commandment in my daily life? Am I bearing fruit that lasts by loving others as Christ has loved me? May we be guided by the Holy Spirit to live in unity and to love one another as Jesus has loved us.