Daily Readings - Thu May 11 2023

⁷After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.⁸God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.⁹He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.¹⁰Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?¹¹No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."¹²The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.¹³When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me.¹⁴Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself.¹⁵The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:¹⁶"'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,¹⁷that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things'¹⁸that have been known for ages.¹⁹"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.²⁰Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.²¹For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."

John

Chapter 15

⁹"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.¹⁰If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Sermon

The first reading from Acts 15:7-21 recounts the Council of Jerusalem, where the early Church addressed whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish law. Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James each spoke, emphasizing that salvation comes through faith in Jesus, not adherence to the Law of Moses. They agreed that Gentiles should only avoid idolatry, fornication, and blood, reflecting the Church's inclusivity and focus on grace. The Gospel, John 15:9-11, features Jesus commanding His followers to love one another as He loved them. He ties keeping His commandments to abiding in His love, which brings joy. This passage is part of Jesus' farewell discourse, highlighting the importance of love and unity among believers. Both readings emphasize unity and love. Acts shows the Church uniting Jews and Gentiles through faith, while John underscores the love binding all believers. Together, they remind us to embrace diversity and focus on essential teachings. In modern life, this means avoiding divisions and embracing love as the foundation of our actions and relationships, leading to true joy.