In the joy of being in the house of the Lord, as a community called to live in dialogue and fraternity, we renew our desire to remain united to Christ, the true vine.

 

Your praise is overflowing in my mouth, joy will sing on my lips, hallelujah (Ps 70,8.23).

In the joy of being in the house of the Lord, as a community called to live in dialogue and fraternity, we renew our desire to remain united to Christ, the true vine. From his Word we can gather the necessary sap to strengthen ourselves in announcing the wonders that God performs in our history.

First Reading: Acts 15:1-6

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles – In those days, 1some people arrived from Judea and taught the brothers of Antioch, saying: “You will not be able to save yourselves unless you are circumcised, as the Law of Moses commands”. 2This caused a lot of confusion, and there was a great argument between Paul and Barnabas with them. Finally, they decided to have Paul, Barnabas, and some others go to Jerusalem to discuss this issue with the apostles and elders. 3After being accompanied by the community, Paul and Barnabas crossed Phenicia and Samaria. They told about the conversion of the pagans, causing great joy among all the brothers. 4Arriving in Jerusalem, they were received by the apostles and elders and told the wonders that God had done through them. 5Some of those who had belonged to the Pharisees and who had embraced the faith stood up and said that it was necessary to circumcise the pagans and force them to observe the Law of Moses. 6So the apostles and elders gathered together to discuss this matter. - Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 121(122)

What joy when I heard that they said to me: / “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

1. What joy when I heard that they said to me: / “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” / And now our feet stop, / Jerusalem, at your gates. – R.

2. Jerusalem, a well-built city / in a harmonious whole; / the tribes of Israel go up there, / the tribes of the Lord. – R.

3. To praise, according to the law of Israel, / the name of the Lord. / The seat of justice is there / and the throne of David. – R.

Gospel: John 15:1-8

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

Stay in me and I will stay in you, says Jesus; / whoever remains in me will bear much fruit (John 15:4s). – R.

Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John – At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: 1 “I am the true vine and my Father is the farmer. 2Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he cuts off; and every branch that bears fruit he prunes, that it may bear even more fruit. 3You are now clean because of the word that I spoke to you. 4Abide in me, and I will abide in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, and you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; because without me you can do nothing. 6Whoever does not abide in me will be thrown away like a branch and will wither. Such branches are collected, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be given to you. 8In this my Father is glorified: that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” – Word of salvation.

Reflection:

With the aim of giving workers a protector and a Christian meaning to work, Pope Pius XII established, in 1955, the liturgical memory of Saint Joseph the Worker. He inserted it in the context of the workers' festival, universally celebrated on May 1st. “In this memory of Saint Joseph, the dignity of human work is recognized, as the duty and perfection of man, the beneficial exercise of his dominion over the created world, service to the community, extension of the work of the Creator and as a contribution to the plan of salvation” (Missal Roman). Regarding Saint Joseph as a model for workers, Pope Francis, in the Encyclical Letter Laudato Si', writes: “He too can teach us to care, he can motivate us to work with generosity and tenderness to protect this world that God has entrusted to us” ( n. 242).