Book of Common Prayer Lectionary
Acts 11:19-30
Psalm 33
1 John 4:7-21
John 15:9-17

Revised Common Lectionary
Acts 10:44-48
Psalm 98
1 John 5:1-6
John 15:9-17

Reflection and Response
Prayer Starter

Today’s readings urge believers to come together in a community characterized by love. In Acts 11 (BCP) Luke describes how, in Antioch, the Christian community expands to include Gentiles. In his sermon in Acts 10 (RCL), Peter tells Cornelius of God’s work in Jesus Christ, thus opening the doors of the Church to Gentiles. The author of 1 John describes Jesus as God’s love for us, and calls us to embrace one another in that love. In the gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that they have been chosen to love one another; in this they will find perfect joy.

First Reading: Acts 11:19-30 (BCP)
The founding of the church in Antioch of Syria, the largest city in the Roman empire after Rome and Alexandria, represents for Luke the culminating stage of the early mission period of the Church. The gospel has been preached to overseas Jews and proselytes, to the Samaritans, to the legally outcast eunuch, to Gentile "God-fearers" and now to pagans. The rest of Acts will focus on Paul’s mission to the Gentiles.

Luke emphasizes the role of anonymous believers in the spread of the gospel. They proclaim "the Lord Jesus" because the term Christ (Messiah) would not mean anything to pagans. The term Lord (Greek, Kyrios), however, was used in many mystery religions of the time. Indeed, "Christ" seems to have been understood by outsiders as a proper name. Hence the name Christians (that is, "followers of Christ") was used derogatorily by non-Christians to distinguish them from the Jewish community.

Acts 11:19-30
Now those who were scattered
because of the persecution that took place over Stephen
traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
and they spoke the word to no one except Jews.
But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who,
on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also,
proclaiming the Lord Jesus.
The hand of the Lord was with them,
and a great number became believers
and turned to the Lord.
News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
When he came and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced,
and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord
with steadfast devotion;
for he was a good man,
full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.
And a great many people were brought to the Lord.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him,
he brought him to Antioch.
So it was that for an entire year
they met with the church
and taught a great many people,
and it was in Antioch
that the disciples were first called "Christians."
At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
One of them named Agabus
stood up and predicted by the Spirit
that there would be a severe famine over all the world;
and this took place during the reign of Claudius.
The disciples determined that according to their ability,
each would send relief to the believers living in Judea;
this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

First Reading: Acts 10:44-48 (RCL)
This missionary speech in today’s reading marks an important turning point in the outreach of the early Church. Many Jewish Christians feared and resisted the possible inclusion of Gentiles, but Luke makes clear that Peter himself (even before Paul) began the mission to the Gentiles under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Cornelius was a "God-fearing" Roman, one who worshiped God but had not adopted all of the Jewish religious practices. Cornelius receives the sacrament of baptism, but not before he and his gathered household receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This event marks a new Pentecost. The circle of Christian faith has now broadened to include the inhabitants of "the ends of the earth" (1:8). The Spirit first came to Jews (2:1-4), then to the despised Samaritans (8:14-17), and now to the Gentiles.

Acts 10:44-48
While Peter was still speaking,
the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.
The circumcised believers who had come with Peter
were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit
had been poured out even on the Gentiles,
for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God.
Then Peter said,
"Can anyone withhold the water
for baptizing these people
who have received the Holy Spirit
just as we have?"
So he ordered them to be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ.
Then they invited him to stay for several days.

Psalm: Psalm 33 (BCP)
This psalm was probably recited at the great autumn festival of Tabernacles, which celebrated both the creation and the history of Israel. It is introduced by a call to the congregation to praise the Lord (vv. 1-5). Then it praises God as Creator (vv. 6-9) and as the Lord of history (vv. 10-19). Verses 20-22 are a concluding confession of trust. The psalmist knows that God’s word and works are unchanging (v. 4) and that God delivers the chosen people (vv. 12, 18-19) because of the covenant promises.

Psalm 33
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous.
Praise befits the upright.

Praise the LORD with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.

Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

For the word of the LORD is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.

He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
and all their host by the breath of his mouth.

He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;
he put the deeps in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.

The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.

The LORD looks down from heaven;
he sees all humankind.

From where he sits enthroned
he watches all the inhabitants of the earth–
he who fashions the hearts of them all,
and observes all their deeds.

A king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.

The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
and by its great might it cannot save.

Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
to deliver their soul from death,
and to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD;
he is our help and shield.

Our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.

Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.

Psalm: Psalm 98 (RCL)
This psalm is closely related to Psalm 96. Its original setting may have been the enthronement festival of Yahweh, celebrated each year at the New Year’s feast of Tabernacles. In later times the psalm was interpreted to herald the Lord’s final coming. It presents the Lord, in faithfulness to the covenant, acting in history for the salvation of God’s people.

Psalm 98
O sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.

His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.

The LORD has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.

He has remembered his steadfast love
and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth
have seen the victory of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
he world and those who live in it.

Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the LORD,
for he is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

Second Reading: 1 John 4:7-21 (BCP)
The author repeats his earlier theme: God’s indwelling in the Christian is manifested in love for one another. In this reading, the theme is set in the context of the nature of God. Love is God’s most characteristic activity.

But the author’s assertion that "God is love" (v. 8) cannot be inverted to include the maxim that "love is God." Much of what we experience as "love" is far from God’s love. God’s love is not an emotion but an event, made known to us in and through Christ’s incarnation and our redemption. Because this love is so intricately tied to Christ, the Christian’s mission of love is of necessity a mission of witness. We love one another as a manifestation of God’s life in us.

1 John 4:7-21
Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is from God;
everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
Whoever does not love
does not know God, for God is love.
God’s love was revealed among us in this way:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might live through him.
In this is love,
not that we loved God
but that he loved us
and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Beloved, since God loved us so much,
we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God;
if we love one another,
God lives in us,
and his love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us,
because he has given us of his Spirit.
And we have seen and do testify
that the Father has sent his Son
as the Savior of the world.
God abides in those who confess
that Jesus is the Son of God,
and they abide in God.
So we have known and believe
the love that God has for us.
God is love,
and those who abide in love
abide in God,
and God abides in them.
Love has been perfected among us in this:
that we may have boldness on the day of judgment,
because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love casts out fear;
for fear has to do with punishment,
and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.
We love because he first loved us.
Those who say, "I love God,"
and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars;
for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen,
cannot love God whom they have not seen.
The commandment we have from him is this:
those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

Second Reading: 1 John 5:1-6 (RCL)
The writing of 1 John seems to have been occasioned by a schism in the community due to heresy, specifically the denial of Jesus’ humanity. The central theme of 1 John is that "God is love" (4:8). The significance of this statement is explored through repeated meditation that interweaves theology and ethics. Those who make the early baptismal confession, "Jesus is the Christ," have assented to a pattern for their behavior. As God’s children, Christians are to love God and one another and to obey the commandments. Through trust in Jesus, the Christian may overcome the world.

1 John 5:1-6
Everyone who believes
that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God,
and everyone who loves the parent
loves the child.
By this we know
that we love the children of God,
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we obey his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whatever is born of God conquers the world.
And this is the victory that conquers the world,
our faith.
Who is it that conquers the world
but the one who believes
that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came by water and blood,
Jesus Christ,
not with the water only
but with the water and the blood.
And the Spirit is the one that testifies,
for the Spirit is the truth.

Gospel: John 15:9-17
Today’s reading from the discourse on the vine and the branches deals with the disciples’ relationships with one another. Jesus’ relationship with the Father has now become the model for all believers. The Father and Son’s relationship of mutual indwelling is now extended to Christians. The Father’s love for the Son is the basis, both in origin and in quality, of the Son’s love for the believer.

Believers are to love one another with a love characterized by self-sacrifice. Thus while Christians are still "servants" (v. 15, literally "slaves") of Christ in terms of ministry (see 12:26; 13:14-16), they are "friends" (v. 15) of Christ in terms of intimacy with God. In and through this relationship Christians are appointed to "bear fruit" (v. 16).

John 15:9-17
As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you;
abide in my love.
If you keep my commandments,
you will abide in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and abide in his love.
I have said these things to you
so that my joy may be in you,
and that your joy may be complete.
"This is my commandment,
that you love one another
as I have loved 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 do not call you servants any longer,
because the servant does not know
what the master is doing;
but I have called you friends,
because I have made known to you
everything that I have heard from my Father.
You did not choose me
but I chose you.
And I appointed you
to go and bear fruit,
fruit that will last,
so that the Father will give you
whatever you ask him in my name.
I am giving you these commands
so that you may love one another.

Reflection and Response
A few simple words from today’s psalm unify today’s readings: "sing...a new song." That allusion to newness captures the spirit of rebirth in spring as well as God’s marvelous surprises. We can almost imagine the jaws dropping as the Jewish believers discover the shocking truth that God’s grace has been poured out on Gentiles too.

So it was when God intervened in human history and sent God’s Son. As 1 John points out, the important, new discovery is not that we love God, but that God loves us. For centuries, humans tried to placate angry deities. To some extent, we continue this charade, trying to rack up the brownie points with our church attendance and good deeds. That activity quickly becomes futile because it is essentially self-centered. God’s intervention revealed a love so vast it puts our puny efforts to shame. Yet at the same time, God’s dramatic action gives our actions a whole new context of meaning.

If we are fortunate, we have met human beings who get involved when they don’t really have to. The people who telephone us when we’re depressed or visit us when we’re ill may have full schedules already. And yet, they call. They take time. And that is precisely what God did. God came. Furthermore, God stayed. And God got involved far more than anyone could have anticipated. God rewrote the whole story of human relationships with the divine. Jesus fell in love with people no one else would look at twice and gave his life for them.

Few if any slaves could inspire such dedication; only friends bring out the best in each other this way. Jesus asks us not to grovel slavishly, but to become new creations every day. In that process, we bear much fruit, astonishing in its variety, its freshness and its endurance.

Quietly consider:
When have I, like the Christians in the first reading,
welcomed newness and change? When have I resisted it?

Prayer Starter
Lord, apart from you I can do nothing;
help me to appreciate what it means
to have you call me "friend"...