Daily Readings - Wed May 01 2024
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on unity and our connection to Christ. In the first reading from Acts, the early church faces a significant disagreement about whether Gentile converts must adhere to Jewish customs like circumcision to be saved. This debate leads to a gathering in Jerusalem, where the Apostles and elders discern God's will, ultimately deciding that Gentiles do not need to follow the full Mosaic law, emphasizing faith in Jesus as sufficient for salvation. This moment is pivotal, showing the church's commitment to unity amidst diversity.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the metaphor of the vine and branches to illustrate our relationship with Him. He is the vine, and we are the branches. Jesus emphasizes that apart from Him, we can do nothing—our spiritual life and fruitfulness depend on abiding in Him. This image underscores the necessity of staying connected to Christ through prayer, the sacraments, and living according to His teachings.
These readings remind us that unity and connection to Christ are vital. Just as the early church navigated differences to maintain unity, we too must work towards harmony within our communities. By abiding in Christ, we find the strength to overcome divisions and bear fruit in our lives. Let us strive to stay connected to Jesus, the true vine, and foster unity, allowing His love to flow through us, transforming our lives and the world around us.