April 24, 2019

Reading

The Acts of the Apostles    15: 22-31

15:22Then 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 brothers,
15:23what 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, greetings.
15:24Since we have heard that some, going out from among us, have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, to whom we gave no commandment,
15:25it pleased us, being assembled as one, to choose men and to send them to you, with our most beloved Barnabas and Paul:
15:26men who have handed over their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15:27Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, with the spoken word, reaffirm to you the same things.
15:28For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose no further burden upon you, other than these necessary things:
15:29that 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.”
15:30And so, having been dismissed, they went down to Antioch. And gathering the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.
15:31And when they had read it, they were gladdened by this consolation.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to John     15: 12-17

15:12This is my precept: that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
15:13No one has a greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.
15:14You are my friends, if you do what I instruct you.
15:15I 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 you.
15:16You 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 you.
15:17This I command you: that you love one another.