Wednesday, May 25, 2011 (Easter Weekday)

READINGS FOR THE DAY
First Reading: Acts 15:1-6
1     But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."
2     And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.
3     So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoeni'cia and Sama'ria, reporting the conversion of the Gentiles, and they gave great joy to all the brethren.
4     When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.
5     But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up, and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses."
6     The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.

Psalms: Psalm 122:1-5
1     I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!"
2     Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!
3     Jerusalem, built as a city which is bound firmly together,
4     to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
5     There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.

Gospel: John 15:1-8
1     "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2     Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3     You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you.
4     Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
5     I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
6     If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.
7     If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
8     By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.

REFLECTION OF THE DAY
He who fights even the smallest distractions faithfully when he says even the very smallest prayer, will also be faithful in great things.

-- St. Louis de Montfort