Reading 1 Acts 15:22-31
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 PS 57:8-9, 10 and 12
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.
Alleluia Jn 15:15b
I call you my friends, says the Lord,
for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Jn 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.”
OBEDIENCE SCHOOL
"This is My commandment: love one another as I have loved you." –John 15:12
Gentile Christians were commanded by the leaders of the early Church to change their eating habits and sexual practices (see Acts 15:20). People are usually very resistant to limitations on their food consumption or sexual activity. However, the Gentile Christians read the letter containing their new orders with "great delight at the encouragement it gave" (Acts 15:31).
For those in love, obedience, in even the most difficult matters, is a delight. The psalmist prayed: "To do Your will, O my God, is my delight" (Ps 40:9). It is more fulfilling to obey God than to do our own thing. Jesus taught: "Doing the will of Him Who sent Me and bringing His work to completion is My food" (Jn 4:34). Jesus promised: "You will live in My love if you keep My commandments, even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and live in His love" (Jn 15:10). He also promised: "You are My friends if you do what I command you" (Jn 15:14). Obeying Jesus leads to a delightful, fulfilling life of love and friendship with Jesus. Therefore, "His commandments are not burdensome" (1 Jn 5:3). We are privileged that the Lord has given us the opportunity and grace to obey Him.
For love of us, Jesus obeyed even to death on the cross (Phil 2:8). May we learn obedience from what He suffered (cf Heb 5:8) and let the Lord perfect us in obedience (2 Cor 10:6).
| PRAYER: | Father, may I obey You financially, sexually, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. |
| PROMISE: | "It was not you who chose Me, it was I Who chose you to go forth and bear fruit. Your fruit must endure." –Jn 15:16 |
| PRAISE: | Like the apostles, St. Catherine of Siena had God-given Wisdom. She wrote letters of advice to popes and many sought her spirit-filled counsel. |
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