Thursday in the fifth week of Easter

Invitation

May I draw your attention to:
the daily reading of the Gospel?

This invitation aims to share with you the joy of the Gospel.
Everyone, without exception,
can experience that joy by opening their hearts
to the healing power of God’s word.

Available every day.

Consideration
We see two sides standing diametrically opposed to one another. The debate rages fiercely: the positions are extreme. But then the authority speaks. Not merely to decide, but to bring the parties closer together, as they fall silent and listen. Peter refers to his personal experience with Cornelius. If God himself shows the way, can one then oppose God? Then James – the stern apostle – points the way towards an acceptable compromise. Can this way of speaking, thinking and seeking of the early Church inspire our faith communities?

FIRST READING                           Acts15, 7-21

I believe that we should not place any unnecessary burden on those who turn to God from among the Gentiles.

From the Acts of the Apostles

In those days, after much discussion
about circumcision, Peter spoke up
and addressed the apostles and the elders:
“Brothers,
you know that God chose me from among you a long time ago,
so that through my mouth the Gentiles might hear the word of the Gospel
and accept the faith.
“Now,
God, who knows the hearts,
has shown his favour towards them,
by bestowing the Holy Spirit upon them,
just as he did upon us,
and he has made no distinction whatsoever,
between us and them,
but has cleansed their hearts through faith.
“Why then do you now provoke God,
which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
“On the contrary,
just as they do, so do we believe
that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus.”
The whole assembly fell silent,
and they listened to Barnabas and Paul
as they recounted the great signs and wonders
which God had done through them among the Gentiles.
When they had finished speaking,
James took the floor and said:
“Brothers,
listen to me.
“Simeon has explained to us
how God, in times past, looked upon us with mercy
and chose a people for Himself from among the Gentiles.
“This is in accordance with the words of the prophets,
as it is written:

‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the ruined house of David.
Yes, I will rebuild its ruins,
and I will restore it completely,
so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
together with all the Gentiles,
upon whom my Name has been proclaimed.’
“Thus says the Lord who does these things:
They have been known from of old.

“Therefore I judge for myself
that no unnecessary burden should be laid upon
those who turn to God from the nations,
but that they should be required
to abstain from things polluted by idols,
from sexual immorality,
from things strangled and from blood.
“For from ancient times Moses has had in every city people
who read and preach to him in the synagogue on the Sabbath.”

RESPONSORIAL                    Ps. 96(95), 1-2a, 2b-3, 10

Proclaim to the nations the glory of the Lord.
or:Alleluia.

Sing to the Lord a new song,
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord and glorify his Name.

Proclaim his salvation day after day.
Proclaim his glory to the nations,
his wondrous deeds to all peoples.

Say to one another: the Lord reigns!
He has established the earth firmly,
he governs the peoples with justice.

ALLELUIA                 Lk. 24, 46

Alleluia.
Christ had to suffer and die,
and rise from the dead,
and thus enter into his glory.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL                         John 15, 9-11

Remain in my love, that your joy may be complete.

From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Just as the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you.
“Remain in my love.
“If you keep my commandments,
you will remain in my love,
just as I, having kept my Father’s commandments,
remain in his love.
“I say this to you
so that my joy may be in you
and your joy may be complete.”

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Laudato Si

Encyclical of

POPE FRANCIS

On Care for Our Common Home

108. There is no possibility of choosing a different cultural paradigm and
using technology merely as an instrument. The
technocratic paradigm has become so dominant today that it is
difficult to do without its resources, and it is even more difficult to use
its resources without being dominated by its logic.
It goes against the grain of our culture to choose a lifestyle with aims that are,
at least in part, independent of technology, its costs and its globalising and
massifying power. After all, technology tends to ensure that nothing
remains outside its iron logic, and “man, who is the protagonist in this, knows that in
the final analysis it is neither about utility nor prosperity, but about domination;
about domination in the extreme sense of the word”.
“Technology lays claim to both the elements of nature and to human existence”.
Thus, the individual’s capacity for decision-making, their most
authentic freedom, and the scope for alternative creativity are restricted.
To be continued
Every day at 1 am