Serve: What do the readings do or make me say…today?
Let’s take a look at some of the major themes that appear in the Scripture readings for the 5th Sunday of Easter.
1st Reading – Acts 9:26-31
Barnabas brings Saul (St. Paul) before the Apostles, who learn how God has worked through him.
The Holy Spirit builds up the early Church.
Psalm 22:26-27,28,30,31-32
All people shall bow down before the Lord.
Note: this Psalm is extraordinary…verses 1-21 focus on the suffering of the righteous servant of God (Jesus), while verses 22-31 are all about God’s triumph. Give yourself a treat and read it straight through, and think about how it applies to the death and resurrection of Christ.
2nd Reading – 1 John 3:18-24
The Lord commands us to love one another, especially through our actions.
By following the Lord’s commands, we remain in him through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Gospel – John 15:1-8
Christ is the vine, we are the branches; the Father tends and prunes the branches so that we bear fruit.
By staying connected to Christ – the vine – we remain in him and he remains in us.
The Lord is our Good Shepherd, but how do we respond to Jesus in our lives today? The Gospel of John offers three insights which can help us carry out the call of Christ.
At the conclusion of the Bread of Life discourse, we see a sharp contrast between those who leave and those who follow Jesus. The Lord continues to invite…what’s our response today?
Philip shares his faith in Jesus with an Ethiopian eunuch. As we are nourished by Christ, our bread of life, we are strengthened to pass on the faith to one another.
Photo by Download a pic Donate a buck! ^ on Pexels.com
Following the death of Stephen the disciples face violent persecution even as they continue to grow in numbers and perform amazing deeds in the name of Jesus.
The seventh chapter of Acts recounts the martyrdom of Stephen and offers us an insight into the courage of the early Church. Where does this strength come from? Jesus Christ, the bread of life!
The Lord says, “Peace be with you” and invites us to draw serenity from His love in our lives. May we call upon His peace as we face the challenges of life with trusting faith.
Three Great Things 