Daily Readings - Wed May 10 2023
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
Dear friends in Christ,
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, community, and our relationship with God. In the First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we witness a pivotal moment in the early Church. The question of whether Gentile converts needed to be circumcised to be saved sparked a lively debate. This was not merely a matter of ritual but a deeper question about the universality of the Gospel. The early Church leaders recognized that God’s plan was broader than they had imagined, and through the Holy Spirit, they discerned that salvation was open to all, regardless of cultural or ritual practices.
The Gospel reading from John 15 presents Jesus as the true vine, with us as the branches. This imagery emphasizes our total dependence on God for life and fruitfulness. Just as branches cannot bear fruit on their own, we cannot live a meaningful Christian life without abiding in Christ. Jesus’ words remind us that our spiritual vitality comes from remaining connected to Him through prayer, the sacraments, and living according to His teachings.
These readings remind us that our faith is not a solitary journey but a communal one. Like the early Church, we must trust in God’s guidance and be open to the ways the Spirit leads us. As branches on the vine, we are called to bear fruit—acts of love, kindness, and service—that glorify God. Let us ask ourselves: Am I staying connected to Christ? Am I allowing His words to dwell in me? Let us pray for the grace to trust in God’s plan and to remain fruitful branches of the true vine.