The remembrance of St Joseph Worker on 1 May was instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1955.
Invitation
May I hereby draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?
This invitation wants to share with You the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, no one excepted,
can experience that joy by opening their hearts
to the healing power of God’s word.
Available every day.
Consideration
After the Lord’s death and resurrection, there are few historical events as important to us descendants of the Gentiles as the Apostles’ Council of Jerusalem. The question of circumcision and keeping the Law of Moses had played no part in the conversion of the Gentile Cornelius and his capture by Peter, nor on the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. Now the question of principle was raised in all its acuteness and also resolved in principle. Today’s world church is unthinkable without this breakthrough.
First reading Acts 15:1-6
A battle question is presented to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
From the Acts of the Apostles
In those days there were some people who had come from Judea
and proclaimed to the brethren the doctrine:
“If you are not circumcised according to Mosaic custom,
you cannot be saved.”
When strife arose over this
and Paul and Barnabas
got into a fierce altercation with them,
they instructed Paul and Barnabas
and some other members of the congregation
with this controversial question
to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
After they had been seen off by the congregation
they travelled through Phoenicia and Samaria,
where they brought great joy to all the brethren
by telling of the conversion of the Gentiles.
On their arrival in Jerusalem
they were received by the congregation,
the apostles and the elders,
and they told all
what God had accomplished with their cooperation.
But some believers,
from the party of the Pharisees,
stood up and declared
that they should be circumcised
and compel them to keep the Law of Moses.
So the apostles and the elders met
to consider the matter.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 122(121), 1-2, 3-4a, 4b-5
How happy was I, when one called me:
we are going to God’s house!
Alleluia
How happy was I, when I was called:
we are going to God’s house!
Now may my foot, Jerusalem,
may enter your gates.
Jerusalem, walled city,
so densely built:
to you the tribes march,
the tribes of God’s people.
They go according to Israel’s custom
worship the Name of God.
There stand the seats of justice,
the throne of David’s house.
Alleluia John 10, 27
Alleluia.
My sheep listen to My voice, says the Lord,
and I know them and they follow Me.
Alleluia.
Gospel Jn 15, 1-8
He who abides in Me as I abide in him who bears much fruit.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine
and My Father is the vine grower.
Every vine on Me that does not bear fruit
He cuts off;
and every one that does bear fruit
He purifies, that it may bear more fruit.
You are already pure
thanks to the word that I have spoken to you.
Abide in Me
and I will remain in you.
Just as the vine cannot bear fruit by itself
but only if it abides on the vine,
neither do you if you do not abide in Me.
I am the vine, ye are the tendrils.
He who abides in Me while I abide in him
who bears much fruit,
for apart from Me ye can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in Me
he is cast away like the vine and withers;
one brings them together, throws them into the fire and they burn.
If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you ,
then ask what ye want and ye shall have it.
By this my Father is glorified
That ye bear rich fruit;
so shall ye be My disciples.”
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APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION LAUDATE DEUM
FROM THE HOLY FATHER
POPE FRANCISCUS
TO ALL PEOPLE
OF GOOD WILL
25. In contrast to this technocratic paradigm, we say that the world around us
is not an object of exploitation, unbridled use and unlimited ambition. Nor can we
not claim that nature is merely a ‘framework’ in which we live our lives and develop our projects
develop. For “we are part of nature, are included in it and are thus
constantly interacting with it”, and so “we do not look at the world from outside
but from within”.
To be continued
The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Bible Translation,
©Dutch Bible Society 2004/2007.
Considerations from Liturgical suggestions for weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Deum Official English translation