FIRST READING
“My judgement is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 15:7-21)
In those days: After there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to the apostles and the elders, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us; and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” And all the assembly kept silence; and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brethren, listen to me. Symeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written, ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up, that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who has made these things known from of old.’ Therefore my judgement is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood. For from early generations Moses has had in every city those who preach him, for he is read every sabbath in the synagogues.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 96: 1-2a.2b-3.10 (R. see 3)
R/. Tell among all the peoples the wonders of the Lord.
Or: Alleluia.
O sing a new song to the Lord;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
O sing to the Lord; bless his name. R.
Proclaim his salvation day by day.
Tell among the nations his glory,
and his wonders among all the peoples. R.
Say to the nations, “The Lord is king.”
The world he made firm in its place;
he will judge the peoples in fairness. R.
ALLELUIA John 10:27
Alleluia, My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; and I know them, and they follow me. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Abide in my love, that your joy may be full.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 15:9-11)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
In the first reading, the question of whether circumcision was a condition for salvation, bring the reason for the Jerusalem Council, is addressed by St. Peter, Head of the Apostolic College. According to the apostles, the Holy Spirit is not exclusively reserved for the Jewish Christians. In God there is no distinction between believers. Everyone who professes faith in God is approved by Him and included in the redemptive mysteries of Christ. St James says that the disciples who lives by the values of the Gospel, regardless of his racial background will be saved. May our hearts be made pure by the love of God and may we be filled with the joy of being united as members of the Mystical Body of Christ.