Daily Readings - Fri May 19 2017

First Reading - Acts 15.22-31

²²Then it pleased the Apostles and elders, with the whole Church, to choose men from among them, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, and Judas, who was surnamed Barsabbas, and Silas, preeminent men among the brothers²³what was written by their own hands: "The Apostles and elders, brothers, to those who are at Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, brothers from the Gentiles, greetings²⁴Since we have heard that some, going out from among us, have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, to whom we gave no commandment²⁵it pleased us, being assembled as one, to choose men and to send them to you, with our most beloved Barnabas and Paul²⁶men who have handed over their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ²⁷Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, with the spoken word, reaffirm to you the same things²⁸For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose no further burden upon you, other than these necessary things²⁹that you abstain from things immolated to idols, and from blood, and from what has been suffocated, and from fornication. You will do well to keep yourselves from these things. Farewell.³⁰And so, having been dismissed, they went down to Antioch. And gathering the multitude together, they delivered the epistle³¹And when they had read it, they were gladdened by this consolation

Gospel - John 15.12-17

John

Chapter 15

¹²This is my precept: that you love one another, just as I have loved you¹³No one has a greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends¹⁴You are my friends, if you do what I instruct you¹⁵I will no longer call you servants, for the servant does not know what his Lord is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything whatsoever that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you¹⁶You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. And I have appointed you, so that you may go forth and bear fruit, and so that your fruit may last. Then whatever you have asked of the Father in my name, he shall give to you¹⁷This I command you: that you love one another

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of love and unity in the life of the Church. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community grappling with a significant challenge: how to welcome Gentiles into the fold without imposing unnecessary burdens. The Apostles and elders, guided by the Holy Spirit, make a decision that balances compassion and clarity, ensuring that the young Church remains united and free to grow. This moment in Acts reminds us that the Church is not just an institution but a family bound together by love and mutual respect. In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea a step further. He calls His disciples not just followers, but friends—a profound shift in relationship. Jesus’ command to love one another is not just a moral instruction; it’s a way of life that flows from the heart of God. To love as Jesus loves means to lay down our lives for others, to listen, to serve, and to bear fruit that lasts. This kind of love is not optional; it’s the very essence of who we are as Christians. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: How can I be an instrument of unity and love in my own community? Am I willing to let go of my own preferences for the sake of others, as the early Church did? Do I see my neighbors, my family, and even my enemies as friends in the eyes of Christ? The readings today remind us that love is not just a feeling but a choice—a choice to act with compassion, humility, and generosity. May we, like the early Church, be guided by the Holy Spirit to live out this love in every moment, bearing fruit that will last for eternity.