WEDNESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER - Jn 15:1-8 - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

READING OF THE DAY

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Acts 15:1-6

Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,

“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,

you cannot be saved.”

Because there arose no little dissension and debate

by Paul and Barnabas with them,

it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others

should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters

about this question.

They were sent on their journey by the Church,

and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria

telling of the conversion of the Gentiles,

and brought great joy to all the brethren.

When they arrived in Jerusalem,

they were welcomed by the Church,

as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters,

and they reported what God had done with them.

But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers

stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them

and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.”

The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John

Jn 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.

He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,

and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.

You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.

Remain in me, as I remain in you.

Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own

unless it remains on the vine,

so neither can you unless you remain in me.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,

because without me you can do nothing.

Anyone who does not remain in me

will be thrown out like a branch and wither;

people will gather them and throw them into a fire

and they will be burned.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you,

ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.

By this is my Father glorified,

that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

WEDNESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER - Jn 15:1-8

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Jesus said to His disciples, as He said to all of His children: “'Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.'”

God loves everyone. He shows people how to live peacefully, happily and bear fruit. Bearing much fruit here is saving souls from the captivity of Satan.

Without God, no one can do anything. Only God is the One who gives the strength to help people be courageous, help people live lovingly, to sacrifice, to give, and to help people give up all bad habits to receive love and kindness into their hearts. Unity comes from God. He is the vine, the strength and the sap that nourishes the branches of the vine, humans.

What is the sap of life that God gives to humans and invites them to live? That is: speak words of love, give love with all your soul and body; know how to share, live in charity towards others, and live in sacrifice and love as God loves people.

Today's Word of God teaches everyone: to truly have God's peace in their soul, and stay in God's love. Trust and rely on Him. Please give me the strength to fight against the enemy Satan every second, every minute lurking to tempt, waiting for the opportunity to steal the human soul away from God, causing the human soul to live in pain, tormented when God is not in the soul. God loves everyone. God invites His children to live and follow God's instructions.

May is the month of offering flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. God invites everyone to:

- Listen to the advice of Our Lady of Mother Fatima: "Pray the Rosary diligently to save souls." The Blessed Mother Mary will accept the invitation of those who love her and diligently pray the Rosary. Because through prayers from the Rosary, people can enter into meditation on the life of Jesus Christ. Whoever wants to enter the Kingdom of Heaven must go through Jesus Christ. He is the way leading to the Father, leading to the Kingdom of Heaven. That is God's word for the Blessed Virgin Mary to know, to remind and call all of God's children to live and practice what God teaches, and to carry out the words that Our Lady of Fatima invited people to.

Thanks be to God. Amen.