Readings for Friday, May 23 2014. Today is Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Lectionary: 289

Reading 1
Acts 15:22-31

The Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church,
decided to choose representatives
and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. 
The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,
and Silas, leaders among the brothers.
This is the letter delivered by them:
“The Apostles and the presbyters, your brothers,
to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia
of Gentile origin: greetings.
Since we have heard that some of our number
who went out without any mandate from us
have upset you with their teachings
and disturbed your peace of mind,
we have with one accord decided to choose representatives
and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So we are sending Judas and Silas
who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:
‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us
not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,
namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,
from blood, from meats of strangled animals,
and from unlawful marriage.
If you keep free of these,
you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’“

And so they were sent on their journey.
Upon their arrival in Antioch
they called the assembly together and delivered the letter.
When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 57:8-9, 10 and 12

R. (10a) I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and chant praise.
Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn.

R. I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD,
I will chant your praise among the nations.
For your mercy towers to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the skies.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
above all the earth be your glory!

R. I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel
John 15:12-17

Jesus said to his disciples:
“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: WHAT IS LOVE?

"The command I give you is this, that you love one another." –John 15:17

When the Lord says "I love you," He doesn't mean "I like you," "I'm attracted to you," or "I want to socialize with you." When the Lord says "I love you," He means "I have died for you." "It is precisely in this that God proves His love for us: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rm 5:8). "The way we came to understand love was that He laid down His life for us; we too must lay down our lives for our brothers" (1 Jn 3:16). "There is no greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (Jn 15:13).

For a Christian, love is not selfish and superficial; rather, it is crucified and divine. Love for a Christian is not an attraction as much as a command. Jesus said: "This is My commandment: love one another as I have loved you" (Jn 15:12). "There are in the end three things that last: faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love. Seek eagerly after love" (1 Cor 13:13–14:1).

PRAYER: Father, You are Love (1 Jn 4:16). In this Easter season, send the Holy Spirit to purify me for a genuine love for my brothers and sisters (1 Pt 1:22). This Pentecost, may the Holy Spirit produce in me the fruit of love (Gal 5:22).

PROMISE: Paul and Barnabas "have given over their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." –Acts 15:26, our transl.

PRAISE: James has witnessed publicly of his vasectomy and how the Lord showed him its sinfulness, restored him through reversal surgery, and blessed him with more children.

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