Daily Readings - Sun May 22 2022
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.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.
Revelation
10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.11It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.12It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.13There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.14The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.22I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.23The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
John
23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.25"All this I have spoken while still with you.26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.28"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.29I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.
Sermon
The readings today guide us through a journey of unity, divine presence, and the enduring power of God’s love. In the first reading from Acts, we witness the early Church navigating a pivotal moment of unity. The Council of Jerusalem resolves the controversy over circumcision, affirming that Gentile converts need only follow basic moral guidelines to be part of the Church. This decision, guided by the Holy Spirit, reflects the Church’s commitment to inclusion and harmony. The second reading from Revelation paints a breathtaking vision of the New Jerusalem, where God’s presence fills the city, and there is no need for a temple because God is the temple. This vision reminds us that our ultimate hope is a world fully united in God’s love. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the intimate relationship between love, obedience, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. He promises peace that transcends the world’s anxieties and assures us that His departure is not an end but a new beginning.
These readings are deeply interconnected. The Council of Jerusalem in Acts shows the Church living out the unity Jesus speaks of in the Gospel. Just as the early Church leaders listened to the Holy Spirit, we too are called to be guided by the Spirit in our decisions and relationships. Revelation’s vision of the New Jerusalem is the ultimate fulfillment of the unity and divine presence that both Acts and the Gospel point to. Together, they remind us that the Church is not just an institution but a living, Spirit-filled community journeying toward the heavenly Jerusalem.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we live out unity and God’s presence. Are we willing to let go of divisions and trust in the Holy Spirit’s guidance? Do we seek God’s presence in our lives, or are we content with lesser things? Jesus’ promise of peace challenges us to live fearlessly, trusting that even in uncertainty, God is with us. Let us strive to be instruments of unity, just as the early Church was, and let us keep our eyes fixed on the eternal city where God will dwell with us forever.