May 22, 2014

Reading

The Acts of the Apostles     15: 7-21

15:7	And after a great contention had taken place, Peter rose up and said to them: “Noble brothers, you know that, in recent days, God has chosen from among us, by my mouth, Gentiles to hear the word of the Gospel and to believe.
15:8	And God, who knows hearts, offered testimony, by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as to us.
15:9	And he distinguished nothing between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
15:10	Now therefore, why do you tempt God to impose a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
15:11	But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe in order to be saved, in the same manner also as them.”
15:12	Then the entire multitude was silent. And they were listening to Barnabas and Paul, describing what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.
15:13	And after they had been silent, James responded by saying: “Noble brothers, listen to me.
15:14	Simon has explained in what manner God first visited, so as to take from the Gentiles a people to his name.
15:15	And the words of the Prophets are in agreement with this, just as it was written:
15:16	‘After these things, I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. And I will rebuild its ruins, and I will raise it up,
15:17	so that the rest of men may seek the Lord, along with all the nations over whom my name has been invoked, says the Lord, who does these things.’
15:18	To the Lord, his own work has been known from eternity.
15:19	Because of this, I judge that those who were converted to God from among the Gentiles are not to be disturbed,
15:20	but instead that we write to them, that they should keep themselves from the defilement of idols, and from fornication, and from whatever has been suffocated, and from blood.
15:21	For Moses, from ancient times, has had in each city those who preach him in the synagogues, where he is read on every Sabbath.”

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to John    15: 9-11

15:9	As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love.
15:10	If you keep my precepts, you shall abide in my love, just as I also have kept my Father’s precepts and I abide in his love.
15:11	These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be fulfilled.