Wednesday of the Fifth week of Easter

Acts of the Apostles

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 brothers.
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.

Psalms

122(121),1-2.3-4a.4b-5.

I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John

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."

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St. Joseph the Worker()

Saint Joseph the WorkerReadings proper for the feast: Gn. 1:26-2:3 or Col. 3:14-24; Mt 13:54-58 Today is a wonderful occasion to reflect on the importance of work in the life of the human person, the family and the community. We are made in the image and likeness of God, we participate with God in the work of maintaining and sanctifying His creation. We work with Jesus; Jesus said “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working” (Jn. 5:17). Every day, St. Joseph, as a carpenter, provided for the family's needs with manual work. Thus the Church rightly points to him as the patron of workers. The dignity of the human person is constructed through work, and in the light of this truth, we can clearly perceive the fundamental connection between the person, work and society. Human activity - the Second Vatican Council recalls - proceeds from the human person and is ordered to the person. According to God's design and will, it must serve the true good of humanity and allow "man as an individual and as a member of society to cultivate and carry out his integral vocation" (cf. Gaudium et spes, n. 35). In order to fulfil this mission, a "tested spirituality of human work" must be cultivated that is firmly rooted in the "Gospel of work" and believers are called to proclaim and to witness to the Christian meaning of work in their many activities and occupations (cf. Laborem exercens, n. 26). May St. Joseph, such a great and humble saint be an example that inspires Christian workers, who should call on him in every circumstance. Today, I wish to entrust to the provident guardian of the Holy Family of Nazareth the young people who are training for their future profession, the unemployed, and those who are suffering from the hardship of the shortage of employment, families and the whole world of work, with the expectations and challenges, the problems and prospects that characterize it.(Partially taken from John Paul II - General audience, Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Wednesday, 19 March 2003)

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2024 / Catholic Missal of may 2024