Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Optional Memorial for Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Martyrs)
 
Proper readings for the Memorial of Sts. Nereus and Achilleus
Biographical Information about St. Nereus and St. Achilleus
 
Or
(Optional Memorial for Saint Pancras, Martyr)
 
Proper readings for the Memorial of St. Pancras
Biographical information for the Memorial of St. Pancras

“God Inviting Christ to Sit on the Throne at His Right Hand”
by Pieter de Grebber, 1645

 
Readings for Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary: [3]
 
Reading 1: Acts 15:22-31
 
The Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church,
decided to choose representatives
and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,
and Silas, leaders among the brothers.
This is the letter delivered by them:
"The Apostles and the presbyters, your brothers,
to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia
of Gentile origin: greetings.
Since we have heard that some of our number
who went out without any mandate from us
have upset you with their teachings
and disturbed your peace of mind,
we have with one accord decided to choose representatives
and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So we are sending Judas and Silas
who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:
'It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us
not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,
namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,
from blood, from meats of strangled animals,
and from unlawful marriage.
If you keep free of these,
you will be doing what is right. Farewell.'"
 
And so they were sent on their journey.
Upon their arrival in Antioch
they called the assembly together and delivered the letter.
When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.
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Commentary on Acts 15:22-31
 
The conclusion of the First Council of Jerusalem is described in this selection. St. James, in conjunction with the rest of the apostles, selects a delegation to return to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas to tell the good news to the Gentile Christians, that, with the exception of Mosaic dietary regulations, they are free to express the Christian faith without the need to adopt all of the religious regulations of Judaism. (Most especially, circumcision is not required.) This is important in Scripture since it demonstrates the authority of the apostles to define orthodoxy, authority that has been transmitted to their successors through Apostolic Succession.
 
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 57:8-9, 10 and 12
 
R. (10a) I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and chant praise.
Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn.
R. I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD,
I will chant your praise among the nations.
For your mercy towers to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the skies.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
above all the earth be your glory!
R. I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 57:8-9, 10 and 12
 
Psalm 57 is a lament. These strophes, however, constitute a song of thanksgiving. In the Easter tradition, the psalmist gives thanks for God’s salvation, and sings of God’s glory to all the nations.
 
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Gospel: John 15:12-17
 
Jesus said to his disciples:
"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one's life for one's friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another."
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Commentary on Jn 15:12-17
 
This selection is part of the discourse on the union of Jesus with his disciples. His words become a monologue, and go beyond the immediate crisis of his departure. There is much made of the use of the difference in the Greek words for “love” used in this discourse. When Jesus says: “No one has greater love than this,” the word agapao (intimate, selfless love) is used, while when he says: “You are my friends,” the word phileo (casual "friendly" (brotherly) type of love) is used. St. John uses the two words synonymously so the message is clear – reiterated at the end of the passage – “love one another.”
 
CCC: Jn 15:12 459, 1823, 1970, 2074; Jn 15:13 363, 609, 614; Jn 15:15 1972, 2347; Jn 15:16-17 2745; Jn 15:16 434, 737, 2615, 2815
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Reflection:
 
We are graced to hear this familiar expression, “love one another,” continuing the discourse on unity with Christ. In all honesty, it is so important that it should be our mantra every day. Each time we encounter another person the Lord’s words should spring to our mind. The phrase should color our every action, always combined with its necessary precursor: “Love God.”
 
“Love one another” is repeated many times in Sacred Scripture, especially the New Testament (actually repeated 14 times, four times in St. John’s Gospel alone). It is central to how we behave in the community of faith. All that we do and say must be measured against that standard.
 
The Gospel, of course, tells us that Jesus is about to express his love for mankind by offering his life, that all might find life again. This act, he tells them, is the ultimate expression of the phrase “Love one another.” And (ironically) with the exception of St. John, the author of this Gospel, all of the apostles did just as the Lord had done; they laid down their lives in martyrdom for love of God and love of one another.
 
We pray that we will never be put to this severe a test, but if we are, that we, like Christ and his friends, will find the strength, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to stand courageously for Christ and the Gospel. That is how others should know us, isn’t it, that we “love one another”?
 
Pax
 

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[1] The picture used is “God Inviting Christ to Sit on the Throne at His Right Hand” by Pieter de Grebber, 1645.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.