Acts 15:7-21
After a long discussion, Peter stood up and addressed them. ‘My brothers,’ he said, ‘you know perfectly well that in the early days God made his choice among you: the gentiles were to learn the good news from me and so become believers. And God, who can read everyone’s heart, showed his approval of them by giving the Holy Spirit to them just as he had to us. God made no distinction between them and us, since he purified their hearts by faith.
“Hear, O daughter, consider, and incline your ear; forget your people and your father’s house; and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him” (Ps 45:10-11).
Col 3:14-15,17,23-24
Above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ.
“Fulfill your duties faithfully, but with the conviction that no duty is more important than the salvation of your soul” (St. Francis de Sales).
Jn 14:27-31a
Jesus said to his disciples: Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace which the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me say: I am going away and shall return. If you loved me you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe. Read More
“Inasmuch as love grows in you, in so much beauty grows; for love is itself the beauty of the soul” (St. Augustine of Hippo).
The true beauty of a person comes from an intimate union with the heavenly Father. When we are filled with His love, our eyes shine and our hearts rejoice. How cold is outward beauty if it does not come from the love that warms the heart! How easily it even becomes a mask if the Father cannot dwell in the heart with His sanctifying grace! Read More
Acts 14:5-18
Eventually with the connivance of the authorities a move was made by gentiles as well as Jews to make attacks on them and to stone them. When they came to hear of this, they went off for safety to Lycaonia where, in the towns of Lystra and Derbe and in the surrounding country, they preached the good news. There was a man sitting there who had never walked in his life, because his feet were crippled from birth; he was listening to Paul preaching, and Paul looked at him intently and saw that he had the faith to be cured. Paul said in a loud voice, ‘Get to your feet-stand up,’ and the cripple jumped up and began to walk. When the crowds saw what Paul had done they shouted in the language of Lycaonia, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form.’
“Do not be afraid; remain united with me always and in all circumstances” (Inner Word).
We know that the Lord often exhorts us not to be afraid. The supernatural world is often foreign to human beings, and it is not uncommon for us to be frightened by natural realities. In the context of the inner word on which we are meditating, it is appropriate to emphasize “not to be afraid at all”. Obviously, our Father wants an undivided trust on our part; a trust so great and strong that no circumstance, no matter how difficult, can frighten us. Read More
Jn 15:1-8
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more. You are clean already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, unless it remains part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.
