Daily Readings - Sun Apr 28 2024

²⁶When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.²⁷But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.²⁸So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.²⁹He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.³⁰When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.³¹Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

1 John

Chapter 3

¹⁸Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.¹⁹This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence²⁰whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.²¹Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God²²and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.²³And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.²⁴Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

John

Chapter 15

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

The readings today remind us of the essential relationship between faith, love, and unity. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community thriving because of their shared faith and mutual support. Barnabas, in particular, stands out as a model of trust and encouragement, helping Saul (Paul) to integrate into the community despite his past persecution of believers. This passage highlights the importance of living out our faith in community and being open to giving others a chance to grow and contribute. The second reading from 1 John deepens this message by emphasizing that true love is not just in words but in actions. John reminds us that our faith is demonstrated through our deeds and our willingness to follow God’s commandments. He also reassures us that even when we feel unworthy or uncertain, God’s love and mercy are greater than our doubts. This reading invites us to reflect on how we express our love for God and for one another in tangible ways. In the Gospel, Jesus uses the image of the vine and the branches to teach us about our dependence on him. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own, we cannot live a fruitful spiritual life apart from Christ. Jesus calls us to abide in him, to remain connected to him through prayer, his word, and the sacraments. This union with Christ is not just for our own benefit but also for the sake of others, as we are called to bear fruit by living out his love and truth in the world. Today’s readings, therefore, call us to examine our lives and ask: Are we living as part of a community that supports and encourages one another? Are we expressing our faith through concrete actions of love and service? Are we staying connected to Christ, the true vine, so that we can bear fruit that glorifies God? Let us strive to abide in Christ, to love in deed and truth, and to trust in God’s presence and guidance in our lives.