Daily Readings - Sun May 05 2024

²⁵As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.²⁶But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself."³⁴Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism³⁵but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.⁴⁴While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.⁴⁵The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.⁴⁶For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.⁴⁷Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."⁴⁸So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

1 John

Chapter 4

⁷Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.⁹This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.¹⁰This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

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.¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.¹³Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command.¹⁵I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.¹⁶You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.¹⁷This is my command: Love each other.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the boundless love of God and the unity it creates among all people. In the first reading from Acts, Peter encounters Cornelius, a Gentile, and recognizes that God’s love extends beyond cultural and religious boundaries. The Holy Spirit descends upon the Gentiles, proving that salvation is not reserved for the Jews alone but is offered to all who fear God and act justly. This moment marks a pivotal shift in the early Church, as it embraces its universal mission. In the second reading from 1 John, we are reminded that love is not merely a human emotion but a divine gift. God’s love is revealed in the sacrifice of His Son, who came to atone for our sins. John emphasizes that love is not something we initiate but rather a response to the love God first showed us. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus commands His disciples to love one another as He has loved them. This love is not sentimental but selfless, rooted in obedience to His teachings and a deep friendship with Him. Jesus calls us not servants but friends, sharing with us the Father’s plan and commissioning us to bear lasting fruit through love. These readings are deeply interconnected. The love of God, which 1 John describes as the essence of His nature, is the same love that Jesus commands us to share with one another. This love is not confined to a particular group but is universal, as seen in Peter’s encounter with Cornelius. The early Church’s willingness to embrace Gentiles reflects the inclusive nature of God’s love, which breaks down walls and unites people across cultures and backgrounds. Jesus’ command to love one another is not optional but a fundamental expression of our identity as His followers. When we love as God loves, we participate in His mission to bring all people into communion with Him. In our daily lives, these readings call us to examine how we embody God’s love. Do we welcome others as Jesus welcomes us, regardless of their background or differences? Do we love selflessly, even when it requires sacrifice? Let us strive to be instruments of God’s love, breaking down barriers and building bridges of unity. May we remember that love is not something we earn but a gift we receive and share. As we abide in God’s love, may our lives bear fruit that lasts, fruit that reflects the joy and unity Jesus desires for us.