First Reading
Reading from the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 15:7-21
In those days, after a long discussion about the matter of circumcision, Peter stood up and said to the apostles and elders:
“Brothers: You know that, from the earliest days, God chose me among you so that the Gentiles might hear, through my mouth, the words of the Gospel and believe. God, who knows hearts, showed his approval by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. He made no distinction, since he purified their hearts by faith.
Why do you want to provoke God by imposing on the disciples that yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? We believe that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.”
The whole assembly fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they recounted the great signs and wonders that God had worked among the Gentiles through them. When they finished speaking, James took the floor and said:
“Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first concerned himself to obtain from among the Gentiles a people for his name. This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written: After this I will return and rebuild the fallen house of David; I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles dedicated to my name. The Lord who does these things is the one who says it. He knows them from eternity.
Therefore, I judge that we should not trouble the Gentiles who turn to God, but only instruct them to abstain from sexual immorality, from what is sacrificed to idols, from blood, and from strangled animals. As for the rest, Moses has from ancient times those who preach him in the cities, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
Gospel
Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint John
John 15:9-11
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”