Lectionary: 287
Reading 1
Acts 15:1-6
Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,
“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved.”
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with them,
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters
about this question.
They were sent on their journey by the Church,
and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria
telling of the conversion of the Gentiles,
and brought great joy to all the brethren.
When they arrived in Jerusalem,
they were welcomed by the Church,
as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters,
and they reported what God had done with them.
But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers
stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them
and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.”
The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
R. (see 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
John 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: BEAR FRUIT
"My Father has been glorified in your bearing much fruit and becoming My disciples." –John 15:8
Jesus proclaimed that He is the true Vine and His Father is the Vinegrower (Jn 15:1). Before completing His thought by calling His disciples the branches on the Vine (Jn 15:5), Jesus interjected some comments on barren branches and fruitful ones (Jn 15:2-4). Jesus can't wait to proclaim the necessity of our bearing fruit abundantly (Jn 15:5). He is preoccupied with our fruitfulness. He insists we bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit and of holiness (see Gal 5:22-23), and demands that we bear the fruit of evangelization.
Jesus loves the world so much that He does not want His sacrificial death on the cross to be in vain (see 1 Cor 1:17). He wants to light a fire on the earth (Lk 12:49) so that all will "be saved and come to know the truth" (1 Tm 2:4). He made us His witnesses (e.g. Acts 1:8) and we must be willing to become the slaves "of all so as to win over as many as possible" (1 Cor 9:19). Jesus' love is so great, and His salvation so necessary that He threatens to throw us into the fire and burn us forever if we refuse to try to bear abundant fruit (Jn 15:6).
Love Jesus and be fruitful.
PRAYER: Father, may I be willing to die to lead others to Jesus.
PROMISE: "The church saw them off and they made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling everyone about the conversion of the Gentiles as they went. Their story caused great joy." –Acts 15:3
PRAISE: St. Christopher and his twenty-four companions in Mexico, three laymen and the rest being priests, chose eternal life by giving up their earthly lives in martyrdom.
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