God, our Heavenly Father, desires that His children all over the world come into that deep personal relationship He is offering us through Jesus Christ, His Son, who has liberated us from sin. And so the only criteria is to turn away from sin, to be obedient to His commandments, and to follow after Him.
For we did not choose Him. He chose us for love of us. And likewise, if we want to enter into this wonderful relationship filled with love, grace, and life to the full, then it is only natural that we lead everyone into that same relationship that we have, which gives us peace, love, and joy. Amen.
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First reading
Acts 15:22-31
It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by us not to burden you beyond these essentials
The apostles and elders decided to choose delegates to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; the whole church concurred with this. They chose Judas known as Barsabbas and Silas, both leading men in the brotherhood, and gave them this letter to take with them:
‘The apostles and elders, your brothers, send greetings to the brothers of pagan birth in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. We hear that some of our members have disturbed you with their demands and have unsettled your minds. They acted without any authority from us; and so we have decided unanimously to elect delegates and to send them to you with Barnabas and Paul, men we highly respect who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accordingly we are sending you Judas and Silas, who will confirm by word of mouth what we have written in this letter. It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves not to saddle you with any burden beyond these essentials: you are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols; from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from fornication. Avoid these, and you will do what is right. Farewell.’
The party left and went down to Antioch, where they summoned the whole community and delivered the letter. The community read it and were delighted with the encouragement it gave them.
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Gospel
John 15:12-17
What I command you is to love one another
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘This is my commandment:
love one another,
as I have loved you.
A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends,
if you do what I command you. I shall not call you servants any more,
because a servant does not know his master’s business; I call you friends,
because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.
You did not choose me:
no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you
to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last;
and then the Father will give you
anything you ask him in my name.
What I command you is to love one another.’
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