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Today's Readings
Reading I
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.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
R. (see 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. or:
R. Alleluia. 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. R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the
Lord. or: R. Alleluia. Jerusalem, built as a city with
compact unity. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD. R.
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. or: R.
Alleluia. According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to
the name of the LORD. In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the
house of David. R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or: R. Alleluia.
Gospel
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.” |
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Saint George
Died c. 304
April 23
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Soldier. Martyr. That's all we
know for sure.
Several stories have been attached to Saint George, the best known of
which is the Golden Legend. In it, a dragon lived in a lake near Silena,
Libya. Whole armies had gone up against this fierce creature, and had gone
down in painful defeat. The monster ate two sheep each day; when mutton
was scarce, lots were drawn in local villages, and maidens were
substituted for sheep. Into this country came Saint George. Hearing the
story on a day when a princess was to be eaten, he crossed himself, rode
to battle against the serpent, and killed it with a single blow with his
lance. George then held forth with a magnificent sermon, and converted the
locals. Given a large reward by the king, George distributed it to the
poor, then rode away.
Due to his chivalrous behavior (protecting women, fighting evil,
dependence on faith and might of arms, largesse to the poor), devotion to
Saint George became popular in the Europe after the 10th century. In the
15th century his feast day was as popular and important as Christmas. Many
of his areas of patronage have to do with life as a knight on horseback.
The celebrated Knights of the Garter are actually Knights of the Order of
Saint George. The shrine built for his relics at Lydda, Palestine was a
popular point of pilgrimage for centuries. One of the Fourteen Holy
Helpers.
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